Homily in Mass of Adults
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Rend your hearts, not your garments.
Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the Lord, your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep, And say, “Spare, O Lord, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.
Saint’s Words:
All the angels rejoice, for in heaven there is greater joy over the sinner that repents, than over ninety and nine just persons who need not repentance.
—Ambrose, Concerning Repentance
Prayer:
Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts. Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins. Lead us back to the way of holiness. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep safe in all its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores.
And today Lord, I choose life. I choose your love and the challenge to live it and share it. I choose hope, even in moments of darkness. I choose faith, accepting you as Lord and God. I choose to let go of some part of my burdens, day by day handing them over to you. I choose to take hold of your strength and power ever more deeply in my life. May this truly be for me a time of new life, of challenge, of change, and growth. May I live out my life during this Lenten season with a heart open to dying with you and rising to your new life, day by day. Amen.
