To See or Not To See: That is the Question: Third Week of Lent: March 11 to 17, 2012

“Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.” If we believe that, we have to believe that committed discipleship — regular reading and refection on God’s word — can “fill the hearts of the faithful” and “renew the face of the earth.” If we choose to look and see.

“My soul is thirsting for the living God.” It will be, if I am aware of God’s presence, power and goodness. This awareness is the fruit of committed discipleship that does not just take Christianity for granted, but keeps delving into the mystery of God’s mind and heart until everything within us is crying, "Hallowed be thy name!"

“Remember your mercy, O Lord.” If we remember it, and let reflection on God’s word remind us of it daily, we will see every problem in the Church and in the world countered by signs of hope. The strongest sign, available to us every day, is the Mass. As long as Jesus is present on the altar, dying and rising in sacrifice, we know the Church is dying and rising daily in him.

“Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.” If we — and the rest of humanity — would reflect on God’s laws enough to see how “wise and intelligent” they are, rejection would be replaced by praise. And society would be renewed. This is a motive for committing to discipleship.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Hardness of heart reveals itself in indecision. If Sunday after Sunday we listen to the word of God at Mass without making any choices in response, we have something to worry about. Do you want to “harden your heart” against this statement, or do you want to start making choices every Sunday before leaving church?

“I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.” Unless we are committed to deep, regular listening to the voice of God through reading and reflecting on his words, we are not choosing to live a happy life. The only true way to happiness is the way of discipleship. Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” But he cannot be Life for us unless we learn to follow his Way by absorbing his Truth. For this we must be disciples.

“It is steadfast love, not sacrifice, that God desires.” But in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross — made present in every Mass — we see God’s “steadfast love” revealed in its perfection. This is the “perfection of love” which every Christian is committed by Baptism to pursue. We learn how to do this by reading and reflecting on God’s word.

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