Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
Think about the things that we celebrate in our lives. We celebrate birthdays, promotions, weddings, etc. We gather and throw tremendous parties for these events. Undoubtedly, (especially at a wedding) we are bound to hear Kool & the Gang's “Celebration”. I'm certain that song was played at every wedding I've ever attended. There is always one line that stands out to me, “Celebrate good times.” As Christians, especially Christians in Lent, we are challenged to fast now so that we can more fully celebrate and feast at Easter. But what exactly are we celebrating at Easter? We are celebrating good times! We are celebrating God's mercy, a homecoming, and our inheritance.
In the first reading, we encounter the promise of God's mercy and compassion. We read that God not only extends mercy, but that He “delights in clemency.” This prophecy's promise of compassion, forgiveness, faithfulness, and clemency found its fulfillment one weekend 2,000 years ago. That first Easter weekend is what we are approaching, and it is what we will be celebrating. Christ's passion fulfilled both this prophecy and the parable of the Prodigal Son. He made real for us the forgiving Father who runs out to His wayward child. It is this mercy that we encounter in reconciliation, yet how often do we sneak out of the confessional as if we were just delivering a message to Father as opposed to encountering the fathomless mercy of God! And as the Father in the parable recognized, this mercy is worth celebrating, as is the homecoming.
A homecoming is our second reason for celebration. With Easter following Lent we celebrate our own homecoming of repentance. Our own turning away from sin and towards the Lord. This is Lent, our journey towards our home, out of the land of our self-centeredness, wastefulness, and mistreatment. And all heaven rejoices at this time, for Christ promises that, “There will be more joy in heaven over 1 sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk 15:7). But this is not the only homecoming. Easter Vigil is also when we welcome our brothers and sisters home. Whether they are brothers and sisters in Christ that we are welcoming home to the Catholic Church or they are our brothers and sisters by virtue of our one Father who we are welcoming home through baptism. What a homecoming that occurs all over the world! We should mirror the Father and the servants as they prepare to celebrate our brothers' and sisters' homecoming instead of judging them unworthy of celebration because of their pasts or being envious if they are blessed with a convert's zeal. And we celebrate this homecoming, because when we are home, our true inheritance is waiting for us.
Our true inheritance isn't the health and wealth gospel. It isn't the license to pursue whatever pleasure we want. It isn't the promise of success or ease, and it certainly is NOT the guarantee of comfort and universal acceptance. No, it is none of these. Rather our inheritance is everlasting life. This isn't merely living for a really long time after we die. This is the inheritance of being able to live the life of grace here and now today. To allow Christ to live in me now, so that I can live in Him then. It is the incomprehensible blessing of having the Father look to you and say, “Everything I have is yours”. This is the inheritance of the Resurrection, the inheritance of Easter. Though we first have to die with Christ, we pass through death and into new life.
So between now Easter, Celebrate God's mercy! Go to confession and praise the Lord for a concrete encounter with His mercy. Encourage someone who is turning from destructive behavior in their life. Be patient with those who wrong you and don't let your anger last forever, for can we as children behave differently than our Father? Celebrate the homecoming. Go to Easter Vigil and celebrate with those who are there. Celebrate this monumental time in their life. Finally, Celebrate our inheritance. Celebrate Easter for the resurrection, the coming of new life. Celebrate that Christ rose from the dead, not to exercise some infinite divine ego, but to show us the promise of the glory He has in store for us. So, go ahead, this Lent, celebrate good times, come on.
- Spencer Hargadon