Mr. Ted McCarrick, the former Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, D.C., has been laicized.  That is a huge step forward but until there is a full investigation with a public report into who knew what and when, there is still the concern that we are being led by blind guides. 
 
St. Luke seems to be speaking of the leaders of Christian communities who do not practice the principle of love that Jesus preached. And yet, they think themselves worthy of leading and guiding others. A leader needs to fully understand and imitate Jesus' practice. A leader, as the gospel acclamation reminds us, needs to shine like a light in the world. A so-called Christian leader who believes he is superior to others and doesn't imitate Jesus' practice, is in no position to correct others. Rather in his arrogance and through his cover-ups, he could well continue to bear the rotten fruit of moral corruption.
 
A friend in Augusta told me that last year she gave $4000 dollars to the BAA.  This year she plans to give nothing.  I couldn’t argue with her.  It is one way of speaking truth to power, but it is not my way.  I can’t judge what others need to do because I don’t know what is in their hearts, but it is not my way because for me it comes too close to financial blackmail.
“Bishop I will start contributing again when y’all start to shape up.”  It is not my way, because we are called to shine like lights in the world.  Some of the ministries of the Diocese are shining light into the darkness of our world and they need our financial support.  It is not my way, because in our world today, it is too easy to point the finger at the other guy while ignoring our own need for moral reform.
 
We find it so easy to turn a microscope on another person’s sin, but we look at ours through the wrong end of a telescope. We easily spot a speck of phoniness in another, because we have a logjam of it in our own lives.  We would rather point out a dozen sins in the life of someone else than take an honest look at the sin in our own life.  Now, Lent begins on Wednesday.  Dare we admit that there might be a need for moral reform in our own lives?  And if we dare to acknowledge our own sinfulness, how are we going to remove the wooden beam from our own eyes?
Well, naturally you know I am going to suggest that you make a least one good Confession during the Season of Lent.  I’ve been kind of lonely in the confessional of late.  As noted on this insert our Lenten Penance Service will be on April 1 ^st.  I hope once again for a good turnout, but I am available every Saturday afternoon and by appointment at any time. 
 
Jesus in the Gospel today offers us a good examination of conscience as he builds on the first reading where Sirach used the image of a fruit tree.  Jesus says that “every tree is known by its own fruit.”  For Sirach our speech is one of our fruits.  At times I’ve heard some rotten fruit coming out of the mouths of some children in our school yard.  You wonder at such an early age, where are they learning such foul language?  Jesus extends Sirach’s image and says not only our speech, but our attitudes and actions are also our fruits.  So when people listen to and observe our speech and attitudes and actions, is it clear that we are bearing good fruit?  Is it clear that they are hearing and seeing men and women who are striving to become shining Christians?  If it is not clear, then perhaps Lent might be a good time to change things around.
 
In the bulletin I suggest that you join a Lenten small group on Prayer.  On the insert to the bulletin you’ll find other ways for allowing the light of Christ to shine more fully in your life.  I’d suggest that after Mass, you sit down and prayerfully consider to committing to just one of them.  If you commit to more than one, that is great.  And if I see that you’ve committed to all of them, I promise I will begin your cause for sainthood upon your death, if I should out live you.  But I’d ask all of you to commit to the Church’s laws on fasting and abstinence.  Compared to the old days the Church asks hardly anything of us in terms of penitential acts.  Here on Tybee, it is not a real sacrifice to not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.  So, just do it.  We’ve gotten way too laid back about these practices.
 
Finally, I want to suggest two Lenten practices that are not in the bulletin.  I think must of us could agree that what is true of our Church institution is also true of our political institutions.  No matter your political leaning, you’d have to be a blind guide not to see that our country needs moral renew.  Some of us are addicted to cable news and this addiction is damaging our souls and is making us morally numb to knowing what is good or what is evil.  MSNBC is bashing the President 24/7.  Fox is bashing everyone but the President 24/7.  Neither is spiritually life giving.  I am going to fast from cable news for Lent and I’d suggest that you do too.
 
And since the moral fiber of our world is weakening every day, my other suggestion is to build within yourself a stronger sense of moral integrity by encountering the lives of the saints.  Fr. Tom Peyton loves to read stories of the saints.  In the meeting room here he has left us selves and selves of wonderful biographies.  Take one home and read it for Lent.  Immerse yourself in these stories that offer the hope of truth and love and goodness overcoming evil and darkness.
 
Whatever you do for Lent, do not allow this season of grace to pass in vain!  Let us ask God to help us set out on a path of true conversion. Let us leave behind our selfishness and our rotten fruit and turn to Jesus so that his light might shine ever brighter in our hearts and in our world!  Amen!  Amen!