-
February 27, 2024Recently I was in a conversation with someone who was trying to convince me that Jesus was religious but did not go to church. This person pointed out precisely how Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple. I pointed out that Jesus was indeed a practicing Jew who went to the synagogue sabbath after sabbath as was his custom. The whole Holy Family is an example of how they lived their faith day in and day out within the institution.
The first reading emphasizes such an essential practice for the Jewish people that is keeping the sabbath. Among the 10 commandments given in the first reading, there is much elaboration with this commandment. Many indications in how to keep it holy are given. The other commandments following this one are short. Don’t kill. Don’t commit adultery. Perhaps implying that if you keep the sabbath holy, you will be able to keep the others well. Start with the basics. If a person cannot give to God what is God’s due, how would they give to other humans what is their due? The only other commandment that has as much elaboration is the first commandment in not making idols of anything on the sky, on earth, or in the waters because God is a jealous God. This should not be taken as a negative against God. It is so wonderful that God is protective of His people. We matter and He cares. This first commandment is also elaborated to show the risks that can happen that can prevent for the third commandment to be fulfilled. People can carve out time for everything, but for God. People can make idols out of anything, and anyone, and forget about God. People go astray from the church preferring worldly things and endeavors. The reason so many people do not feel the mercy of God to thousandth generation is because they do not fulfill their Sunday obligation. They don’t show up for Mass. They do not follow the third commandment. They are seeking something more.
In the second reading it states, “Jews demand signs, and Greeks look for wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:22) but nowadays people are demanding entertainment. If it’s not fun, if not exciting, it is boring and I don’t want to go. The sacrifice of Christ crucified is not sufficient for them to come one hour of their week to the Mass. Perhaps something very simple (and yet somehow difficult for some people) to do during Lent is to practice the commandments, but specifically the one of coming to church on Sunday and thus honoring the day of the Lord and keeping it holy. For us Catholics, we understand that to be Sunday, the day the Lord triumphed over death and recreated everything anew. Lent invites everyone to practice more their faith and come Sunday after Sunday in this journey toward Holy Week. It is sad that some people come only on Ash Wednesday (not a holy day of obligation) but do not come the Sundays of Lent to continue the journey. If we are lucky, we will get them back on Easter Sunday, but by then they have skipped a whole lot of content necessary to understand God’s plan of salvation. It is as if fast-forwarding a movie and skipping right to the end missing the major plot points. Perhaps a very simple Lenten proposition is to make to Mass every Sunday, thus fulfill the third commandment and blessings will follow.
