Homily for 3rd Sun of Lent, Year B March 4, 2018
Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia
“Zeal for your house will consume me.” A mother protecting her children, an activist fighting for justice, an Olympic athlete with their sport of choice – these are all examples of zeal. But Jesus is zealous for what matters most: the love of God. His “Father’s house” is important not because it was a pretty awesome building, but because it was the necessary physical manifestation of the worship of God. But these greedy, short-sighted men turned it into a marketplace: a place of self-interest or even extortion.
In the other versions of this same story Jesus uses a contrast between a “house of prayer” and a “den of thieves.” And this contrast displays the two ways we can approach God and his Church: do we come to give in zeal or do we come to take like thieves? Since it’s Lent, this makes for a good examination of Conscience.
Do you come to Church just to look good like a politician who only goes during election season – to buy a reputation? Or do you come to humbly offer each week of your life back to God? Do you steal as much time for yourself as possible at Mass, coming late or leaving early? Or do you give the full hour and even the extra few minutes know what is happening in the parish, to discover ways you can help?
Do you put money in the collection as a way of taking control like stock in a company on the market? Or do you offer both your money and your advice as an expression of generosity and good will? The physical realities of the Church like candles, books, lights, air conditioning, meetings rooms, social-service programs: Do you act like a dissatisfied customer when something is imperfect? Or do you strive to have realistic expectations? To consider what it takes to provide what we offer? Do you give how you can, big or small, financial or spiritual?
And what of vocations? Do you expect there to be a priest at every Church? For him to know what he’s doing, and to be available for counseling, funerals, weddings, and emergencies? Do you want religious brothers and sisters to teach, do missionary work, and serve the poor? We can see a thieving and marketplace mentality in those who want there to be servants, but who are unwilling to serve… Even today, some men and women are basically disowned by their family for considering such vocations; People who say, “priests are great, just not my son, I want grand-kids.” They want the sacraments and service of the Church, but they never want it to cost them or their family… they hunt for a bargain or a steal. But you, do you show zeal and prayer to provide for these vocations? Are you willing to give of your own flesh and blood so the Church has ministers to serve the world?
Almost every sin – and every virtue – can be seen through this lens: do you seek to give or to get? Is the Church a market, or a house of prayer? And one major way we can move more toward zeal and away from greed is through prayer. This is why we are driving to restore Perpetual Adoration to New Iberia. It will help individuals and the whole community overcome the market mentality.
One way to see this is its effect on vocations. In 1993 Atlanta started perpetual adoration programs around the diocese, within 8 years they went from 8 seminarians to 61. A diocese in Ireland went from 16 to 45 in three years after starting perpetual Eucharistic adoration. Mother Teresa had trouble attracting women to her rather challenging religious order, until they started a daily holy hour in 1973. Now, there are over 5000 such sisters around the world. Their life is still not easy or comfortable, but people come. Prayer works.
And as for my own story. I think it starts with my grandparents. For 10 years they went to the adoration chapel every week from 12 to 1 in the morning. My grandmother prayed so hard for a vocation from among her children and grandchildren… I didn’t have a chance. And I cannot tell you how happy I am that her prayers worked.
And adoration became an essential part of my own life too. While I was at UL, I worked one semester at the café in the Catholic Student Center. About three times a week, I opened the café in the morning. For some unclear reason, I started showing up early and going into the Church to pray before my shift. Sometimes it was beautiful. Sometimes I fell asleep in the pew. Sometimes I was just angry and irritable and I let the Lord know it. But over time, zeal for the Lord’s house began to fill my heart. I became happier and happier with giving to God and His Church. I saw the student center as a house of prayer as well as a home for my new spiritual family. Eventually, I was ready to give my life to that deeper reality as a priest. It has brought difficulty, loneliness, and suffering, but also great joy, peace, and purpose. When you spend time with God, even imperfectly, you begin to recognize his love for you and your vocation. Perhaps best of all, you come to recognize how best to deal with suffering, to find peace in chaos, and to see this Church as a house of prayer and as a home.
Finally, it says here Jesus knew human nature. Well, so do we, so let me address some practical, human concerns about the chapel:
What Commitment: One hour a week for a year, but you won’t be alone. We can find substitutes for the occasional week away. Please don’t let that week of vacation later this year be an excuse not to help.
Desiring Recognition: we will have an annual banquet to recognize those who give and an annual drive to fill spots that need to be filled.
Safety: we are adding security cameras and even more lights. We are also challenging the men in all 5 parishes to step up and be the ones to take those midnight hours. My grandfather is 90 years old, manages an apartment building and works for a bank, but he goes an hour to the chapel every day. I know what real men are capable of; they’ll step up.
What to do when you’re there: Pray, obviously. A rosary, some reading, a quiet inner conversation with God. Ask the adorers now, they’ll tell you it usually goes by pretty quickly once you get used to it. Yes, it’s perfectly okay if you fall asleep during your hour. St. Therese did it all the time and she’s a Saint and Doctor of the Church!
And my personal challenge: How many hours a week do you spend on exercise, television, internet, entertainment? In 100 years, how much of that will matter? But the hours you spend adoring the infinite, almighty God who wants to love you for all eternity? That will matter. Please, sign up for an hour if you can. Zeal for His house will consume you, and when the end comes, you’ll be glad it did.