Here is the text of Fr Richard's homily for the Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent, along with an audio recording of the readings and homily at the Mass he celebrated today:
Readings: https://universalis.com/mass.htm
Homily: Living the joy of Lent by humility
Listen: Click here for audio
Perhaps we’re not inclined to
think of Lent as a joyful season, especially amid this worrying period we live
in. But the first word of the collect for today’s Mass is the word “rejoice”.
“Rejoicing in this annual celebration of our Lenten observance, we pray, O
Lord, that with our hearts set on the paschal mysteries, we may be gladdened by
their full effects.”
As we approach Laetare
Sunday, then, the liturgy is beginning to point us towards the events of Holy
Week and Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. Although it looks like we’ll not be
able to celebrate the Paschal mysteries together liturgically in Church this year,
we will still meditate deeply on the Passion, death and Resurrection of Christ
in our homes, we will welcome the Risen Lord into our hearts in a few weeks’
time. The Prophet Hosea today assures us: that the Lord will come “is as
certain as the dawn”. These words bring us great comfort and hope – yes the
Lord will come in glory, in fact, he is already here in our midst.
And so we continue to prepare
ourselves for the saving mysteries of our Redemption. The Gospel reminds us of
the disposition we should take during this Holy Season: humility. Not the false
humility demonstrated by the boastfulness of the Pharisee, but the true
humility of the tax collector: “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” To recognise
the greatness of God, to acknowledge our need for His mercy and forgiveness, to
allow Him to purify our hearts – these are the preparations we can make for
what remains of Lent.
The Church teaches us that
humility is the foundation of prayer. Only with humble and contrite hearts are
we able to grow in friendship with God. Remember also, although we can’t
celebrate Mass and liturgies together at the moment, Canon Michael and I can
still hear your confessions upon request, of course with appropriate
distancing. The Sacrament of Reconciliation helps us to grow in humility – the
modest estimate of ourselves that makes us look towards the Lord in trust and
joy.
“Everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.” In humility,
may we look forward to the Paschal Mysteries with joy.
