by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace
Now we have completed three weeks of the season of Lent, a season that began on Ash Wednesday when we were signed with those ashes that reminded us that we are dust, and from dust we came, to dust we shall return. We began then a season of renewal to prepare for our passage from death to new, everlasting life. Our preparation included, as we know, some fasting or penance, disciplining ourselves to put into a right perspective all the goods of the earth that we cherish so much
We encourage or encouraged and began to do almsgiving — giving of that excess that we have to those who are in desperate need, sharing of the goods we have so all could have a full life — and prayer. Those three things always mark the season of Lent, and I trust that we have been trying to be more alert to doing penance, disciplining ourselves in the right view so the world’s goods we’ve been sharing with others, and praying.
This Sunday with this Gospel lesson really kind of changes our focus now to look forward with anticipation to Easter — the moment of the resurrection of Jesus that becomes the time for us to enter into new life with Jesus, his risen life, to share that life as sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus. This Gospel lesson today prepares us for this anticipation of Easter where we renew our baptismal promises, especially Holy Saturday night, but Easter Sunday, too….