Fr. Dale’s Homily – 1st Sunday of Lent
The First Sunday of Lent (Cycle C)
March 8-9, 2025
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
Some of you may remember that many years ago a comedian, Flip Wilson,… he did a comedy sketch that popularized the saying; “The devil made me do it!” Perhaps you have used that sentence to excuse yourself or justify your actions at some point in life. I have been known to use it a time or two or three or 27 times myself.
I suppose if Jesus had succumbed to the temptations of the devil in today’s Gospel, He could have said, “The devil made me to it.” But He didn’t succumb. He didn’t say it. Jesus’ journey into the desert (and ours into Lent) invite us into a different space. The space is one of being purified, enlightened and united with the image of God each of us is. When this happens, our whole life changes and we can do things we thought we never could. This is true conversion, and that is what Lent is all about. Jesus shows us the way. The desert and Lent have something in common. Both invite a “claiming” of our TRUE SELVES.
In the desert, Jesus came to better self-knowledge – who He was, who He was called to be. Lent is a special season of our liturgical year that calls us to follow Jesus’ example. In Lent, we are encouraged to take some desert time. We are invited to make room for two treasures: solitude and prayer. In the times of solitude and prayer, we are invited to remember who we are and what God asks of us.
We are invited in a special way this season, to look at ILLUSIONS. Think about that word. We know that an illusion is a perception or image that deceives or misleads. God knows we see and hear it every day in the media…
In this Lent (more than any of our past), let us look and listen to the Ashes we received on Wednesday. Serious reflection can clear our minds of FOUR big illusions that often seem operative in our living…
First, ashes are a vivid reminder that we will die. Secondly, we make plans for a “some day” that never arrives ergo missing TODAY’s blessings. Thirdly, we let worry become a lifestyle (as if worry will prevent misfortune). Lastly, the feeling of being indispensable, that “they can’t get along without me” attitude…
Living life filled with illusions is like looking at oneself in a broken or severely scratched mirror. What you see isn’t real; it is not the whole picture. Real life is a freedom from illusions. Here in our parish these 40 days and 40 nights, you are invited to “listen to the ashes” each time you come here. We ask ourselves honestly, “What are the attitudes, the habits; the ways of thinking that are the illusions that keep me from loving Jesus… myself… my neighbor… Whenever you look at your reflection at home or away, may it cause you to reflect on what’s in your life that prevents Christ’s love from breaking through…
Honestly, it was not a devil that made you or I do what we did…ever… or at least, not alone! It was an illusion of self that made certain choices. Can we live with that or can it be make it right? It depends on repentance, deeper awareness, the need for conversion and breaking through the illusion.
Ours are blessed ashes, holy ashes and they hold the promise of Resurrection. As Jesus went out into the desert to do what needed to be done, so too are we sent forth in this season of Lent to ask for serenity to ‘accept the thing we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference… just for today.’