John Carroll University welcomed Bishop Edward Malesic to campus on Feb. 26 as he celebrated Mass and commissioned those who will be participating in immersion ministry trips during the upcoming spring break.
Using the analogy of the bread, which is blessed, broken and shared during Mass when it becomes the body of Christ, the bishop said, “The Lord asks us to break off a bit of ourselves for the world.” The mission trips to the United States-Mexico border and North Carolina are one way to do this, he said.
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In his homily, Bishop Malesic quoted the famous film star Mae West several times, using her infamous -- somewhat bawdy -- double entendres to illustrate his points. “To err is human, but it feels divine,” she said.
“That’s pretty much what the devil told Adam and Eve when he tempted them with the forbidden fruit,” the bishop said, noting how sweet the first bite must have tasted. However, it quickly soured in the consequences – sin. That first sin meant they no longer would live forever. Instead, Adam and Eve eventually would return to the same dust from which they were made. And we inherited their sin, the bishop explained. “We reminded ourselves of that on Ash Wednesday. The truth is, Adam and Eve sinned because it looked so good.”
That’s also why we sin – because it still feels good, the bishop said. He listed examples such as lying to get out of a predicament at work or school. However, when we get caught, it hurts. Just like the forbidden fruit looked good to Adam and Eve until they bit into it and found the rot within.
“It feels good to gather up our wealth until we see a person sitting in poverty who has nothing, and we hear the words of Jesus tell us that if we don’t feed that person, we are also rejecting him,” Bishop Malesic said.
The season of Lent requires reflection to determine how far we’ve strayed from God’s law of love while trying to make up our own laws. “Our sins have a way of catching up with us,” he said, noting Adam and Eve were embarrassed by their sin, hiding from God and each other behind fig leaves sewn to cover themselves. “But God found them out. He has a way of seeing what we hope others don’t.”
Once again quoting Mae West, he said, “‘I generally avoid temptation, unless I can’t resist it.’ But temptation must be resisted. We shouldn’t give in so easily. We should strive to live a life full of virtue instead of vice. And that means we develop the habit of doing what is good and the habit of avoiding what is evil.”
Reforming takes hard work, prayer and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, including listening to God’s word and his Church on the difference between right and wrong. It also takes the discipline of trying to follow God’s law rather than our own, and to do his will on earth as it is in heaven, the bishop explained.
“Lent is a special time that we can use to confront our sins and bad habits. It is a time to look at the things that tempt us, to uproot those weeds that want to choke us and to ask God for the grace to help us,” he said.
Lent also is a time of forgiveness, healing and growth as well as a time of increased charity and fasting from food and sin. It is a time we can spend allowing God to renew us. Lent is a refreshing shower after a long, hot, grimy day … but in order to feel the cleansing effects of Lent, you need to step into the shower of God’s grace,” Bishop Malesic said, noting that Mass is one way to do that.
He suggested some ways to obtain God’s grace during Lent, including attending extra Masses, reading one of the Gospels, praying the rosary, reading a spiritual book, coming early to Mass to pray before the Blessed sacrament, eating simply and donating the money saved to a good cause, spending time with someone no one else wants to be with, doing good work for others, turning off the radio or TV and letting the silence bring God’s love to them, going to confession and sharing their faith with others.
“Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you,” he said, quoting a favorite Scripture passage from James. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. That’s what we do right now,” he told those gathered for the liturgy.
After Mass, those participating in the upcoming immersion trips were invited to come forward for commissioning and a prayer. The bishop recalled his immersion trip to Haiti while he was in the seminary. “I went to help them, but they did more to help me,” he said, explaining the Haitians had little, but they shared what they had – most importantly, their faith.
“The world needs more faith. Think of how many people don’t know there is a God who loves them. You are an inspiration to me, to those around you and to this campus. Don’t keep your faith a secret. Share it … accept God. He has a plan for you, a purpose for every one of us. And keep us in your prayers,” he added.