On this Third Sunday of Lent we hear the parable about the fig tree that had not yielded any fruit for three years. The natural response is to cut it down, but the gardener asks for another year when he will cultivate the ground and fertilize it and hopefully, it will bear fruit. All parables are meant to teach us something. What about God’s dealing with us? How patient or impatient is God with us? We all have moments of insight and “ah ha” experiences. We may lose patience with ourselves, but God deals with us differently. Remember the Scripture passage in which God says “my ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts.” In our prayer we try to put ourselves “in line” with God and have God’s view and patience. This is not easy for us. This is part of our Lenten homework.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

Chapter 3: In the Light of the Master

We often hear it said that with respect to relativism and the flaws of our present world that the situation of migrants, for example, is a lesser one. Some Catholics consider it a secondary issue… the only proper attitude is to stand in the shoes of those brothers and sisters of ours who risk their lives to offer a future to their children.

Can we not realize that this is exactly what Jesus demands of us when he tells us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome him…(we read) in the Old Testament: “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt.” “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

This is not a notion invented by some pope or a momentary fad. In today’s world too we are called to follow the path of spiritual wisdom proposed by the prophet Isaiah to show what is pleasing to God: “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn.”

Chapter 3: In the Light of the Master

I regret that ideologies lead us at time to two harmful errors. On the one hand, there is the error of those Christians, who separate these Gospel demands from their personal relationship with the Lord, from their interior union with him, from openness to his grace. Christianity then becomes a sort of nongovernmental organization stripped of the luminous mysticism so evident in the lives of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Teresa of Calcutta and many others. For these great saints, mental prayer, the love of God and the reading of the Gospel in no way detracted from their passionate and effective commitment to their neighbors; quite the opposite.

The other harmful ideological error is found in those who find suspect the social engagement of others, seeing it as superficial, worldly, secular, materialistic, communist or populist. Or they relativize it, as if there are other more important matters or the only thing that counts is one particular ethical issue or cause that they themselves defend.

We cannot uphold an ideal of holiness that would ignore injustice in a world where others revel, spend with abandon and live only for the latest consumer goods even as others look on from afar, living their entire lives in abject poverty.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our Irish Sisters and Brothers! I hope you enjoyed the parade yesterday. The Feast of St. Patrick will be celebrated throughout the Archdiocese of New York on Monday. Many blessings to you!

We are at the Second Sunday of Lent and the Gospel is traditionally about the Transfiguration of Jesus. He travels with Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray. What a better place to get away and gain perspective. It is easy to lose sight of what is important and how God is part of our lives. Some retreat centers are on a mountain and there is nothing better than to take time to get away; it is interesting how you begin to think clearly and rearrange some priorities when you are on the mountain. Moses and Elijah appear to the disciples and then a voice is heard: “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.” If Jesus’ followers remembered anything of the experience after that came down from the mountain, hopefully was “Listen to Him.” This is a good message for us: listen. It’s not easy.

In just a few weeks on Friday, April 12 the program “Encounter: From the Heart of Pope Francis” will take place here in the church. This is an evening with song, story and prayer meant to lead us into a deeper relationship with the Lord. There will be special music from noted church composers throughout the service adding to the message of the evening. Click here for more information and for tickets. Perfect for Lent!

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

Chapter 3: In the Light of the Master

In the 25th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus expands on the beatitude that calls blessed the merciful. If we seek the holiness pleasing to God’s eyes, this text offers us one clear criterion on which we will be judged.

“I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was in prison and you visited me.”

Holiness, then, is not about swooning in mystic rapture. As Pope John Paul said, “If we truly start out anew from the contemplation of Christ, we must learn to see him especially in the faces of those with whom he himself wished to be identified.” …In this call to recognize him in the poor and the suffering, we see revealed the very heart of Christ, his deepest feelings and choices that every saint seeks to imitate… Our Lord made it very clear that holiness cannot be understood or lived apart from these demands, for mercy is “the beating heart of the Gospel.”

The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent shows Jesus being tempted. Jesus resists the temptations by showing that what Satan offers does not satisfy Him in any way. His hunger is satisfied by His relationship with the Father; He knows that people worship other gods but God alone He adores; He uses His power and authority to heal, to forgive, to cure, to include everyone. Aware of His mission, Jesus resists each attempt of Satan to lead Him on a dead end path. Giving in to temptations makes us less than what God wants us to be. There might be an immediate thrill, but it is short lived. The temptations: what a way to begin Lent.

I hope that the Lenten booklet that was given out last week will be a companion for you during this Lenten season. The author is well known for his spiritual insights and has written previous Advent and Lenten booklets. There are other Lenten books in the lobby of the Parish house. It is good to have something to read and think about each day of this important season.

Congratulations to our Catechumens who will become the “elect” as they participate in the Rite of Election at St. Patrick’s Cathedral today. Cardinal Dolan will preside at this ceremony at which all of the catechumens throughout the Archdiocese come together for this important step toward their full participation in the life of the Church. Congratulations and thank you to Joe Nuzzi and the RCIA Team for guiding our catechumens and candidates!

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.