As we begin our meditation on the Lord’s Passion and Death, we find ourselves in the desert with our spiritual ancestors. We find ourselves at the foot of the mountain of Sinai, here at the foot of the Altar. We listen as they once did to Word of God, spoken to us from human lips. We open our ears so these words can enter our heart.

However, we listen with hearts that are Christian. Our hearts have turned to Jesus and so we hear these words as a foundation of our faith in the Church. Paul says, “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

In the Gospel, we confront the reality of our own spiritual lives when we acknowledge all the barnacles in life that stick to us; envy, greed, lies, selfishness, anger, busyness and perhaps disrespect of self and other.

Jesus tears them down like the tables in the Temple. He beckons us to listen for the authentic words of God and challenges us to cling to them! Be filled with the same zeal which David said consumed him. Grab a hold of the Word of God and believe in the power of His Name and in the Wisdom of His Life.

My friends, our God is good. He heals the wounds our sins and selfishness bring upon us. Let us acknowledge that our sinfulness hurts us and hurts the Body of Christ. May our fasting, acts of charity and prayer fill us with hope and lead us to the Easter joy God desires to share with us.

Amen.