Remember What the Lord Has Done For Us

Homily for Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Our first reading comes to us from the Book of Deuteronomy. It is the fifth and the last book of the Torah or the Pentateuch. The very name of the book tells us that this is the second book to explain the law of God to the children of Israel. Much has happened over the forty year period during which the people have wandered through the desert. Consequently, like any good teacher, Moses offers the Israelites a review of all that is happened since they have left the land of Egypt.

It has often been said that there is nothing we can do about the past. In addition, it is foolish to worry about the future because none of us has been guaranteed tomorrow. Consequently, Moses wisely uses the word “today” frequently throughout the Book of Deuteronomy. By focusing their attention on what God has done for them and sweeping the dust of their past sins from their lives, the people will be better equipped to cross the River Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

The Gospel offers us some advice about what Jesus expects of his disciples. First, they are to deny themselves. Next, they are to take up their cross and follow him. It is all too easy to conflate these two ideas and make them one. However, is imperative that we consider them both. First, we are to deny ourselves. Usually this means that we are called upon to do acts of penance. However, rather than thinking of penance as retribution for past sins, penance is much better used to remind us of how much we need God. By denying ourselves the things of this world, we better realize how much we need God in our lives.

Secondly, carrying a cross is, to say the least, difficult. Each time we think of Jesus or pray the Way of the Cross, we are reminded of the tremendous exertion Jesus needed in order to accomplish this on his way to Calvary. To think that we would be able to carry our cross without help is foolish. We need the strength of Jesus. We need the grace of God. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this task.

Fortunately, we have been given the gift of the Eucharist which comes with the grace that we need to carry our cross every day of our lives. Yes, the Eucharist is a promise of what is to come. However, it is also the source of grace that will strengthen us in our ability to carry our cross every day of our lives. A simple way to remember this is to simply pray, “Help me, Lord Jesus,” as Jesus enters our lives once again.