Catholic Community of Jeffersonville St. Augustine
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Catholic Community of Jeffersonville St. Augustine & Sacred Heart

Homily
by
Father Thomas E. Clegg

Ash Wednesday   St. Augustine Sacred Heart                        2010

 The command of Jesus to fast, as well has his own example of fasting,

   has led to a much used and spiritually effective tool for our

     Christian toolbox throughout the centuries.

People have fated from the time of Christ and even before

   as a discipline for drawing closer to our God.

        It is a good discipline and it is a good exercise.

And I’d like you to enter into it this Lenten season, but with a twist.

Instead of fasting through giving up or eating less food, or candy,

   or diet Pepsi’s, or sweets,

      or anything of those typical things we “give up” for Lent.

I’d like you to join me this Lent in a fast from Consumption and Waste.

Over the last few weeks, as I had been preparing for this homily

    in conjunction with a program offered by

       our Christian Service and outreach Commission,

I have been amazed at how much I waste and how much I consume

   of the world’s resources.

Just this morning I opened up the refrigerator and noticed a sandwich

   that had turned an interesting shade of green.

      I had to throw it out.

It made me stop and think about how much food I waste

    as a single person living alone in a house.

This Lent I am committing to wasting less food,

    eating my leftovers more often, and paying closer attention

       to what I have in my refrigerator and freezer.

Too many people are going hungry in the world for me to be wasting food.

This Lent I am fasting from wasting water…

   For several years now I have been aware of the water saved by simply

      turning off the water while I brush my teeth.

Hopefully, many of you do the same,

    or will start doing that as a simple way of conserving water.

But how about this one.

   When I was in Haiti, because they had no hot water,

     when I showered I would get wet, turn off the water, wash myself,

       and then turn the water back on to rinse off with.

I am committing to doing that this Lenten Season and hopefully beyond.

  I know it will be difficult.

On these cold winter mornings when that hot water feels so good….

     but fasting…even from waste is a discipline.

So I pledge and invite you to join me in the pledge to fast from waste this Lent.

I also invite you to fast from over consumption

   and I’ll give you 10 simple things you can do to do this.

1)    Recycle-there is really no excuse for not recycling today.

            You already pay for it in Clark County.

               Your first tub is free…and it helps the environment.

                    Recycle as a way to battle consumption.

2)    Turn it Off—Unplug it…

      As preparation for this homily I walked around my house to see

        how many items that I use sporadically are still plugged

           in and pulling electricity.

I found 11….coffee pots, radios. Guest bedroom alarm clock,

   My phone charger….I charge my phone every night,

     but by leaving it plugged in all day it is drawing electricity to no benefit.

It’s as simple as turning off lights and TV when you are not in the room.

   This Lent I am inviting you to turn it off and pull the plug.

3)    Buy and Use  Reusable grocery bags….Yes it cost a few dollars,

But the plastic bags take hundreds of years to biodegrade.

  And if you simply can’t afford to buy the bags,

    at least recycle the plastic ones.

Every grocery store has a container to recycle them.

   And when you buy the reusable ones, find a way to remember to use them.

4)    Change your filters regularly. Heating Units Air Conditioning Units

         run much more efficiently if the filters are changed regularly.

Same is true of you car’s air filter.

   Leads to number 5

5)    Car---Is it possible to car pool or ride a bike. Or walk somewhere?

If not, make sure your tires are inflated…helps the wear on you tires

   And you car runs more efficiently

6)    Drive Slower…set your cruise at 70 rather than 75 or 80…..

7)    Go electronic…on bank statements, credit card statements, bill paying…

Auto tithing  right here in Church…

  You save money by writing less checks.

    We save money by not sending envelopes.

Paper is saved all the way around…and we can budget better

          Forms are in the back of Church.

8)    This Spring…don’t move from Heat to AC without a few weeks of 

        fresh air. Sometimes we forget how nice it can be outside.

          Open you windows and enjoy the good weather when you can.

9)    Once a year, plant a tree…So many trees are consumed by our desire

          for more…let’s put a few back.

10)                       Finally, use energy efficient light bulbs. They cost more, no doubt, but there is also no doubt that they are better

              for the environment and will help with your electric bill.

Why all the fuss…

Pope Benedict said it best on January 1 of this year:

   “It is becoming more and more evident that the issue of environmental degradation challenges each of us to examine our lifestyle…”

It really is about changing the way we live…He goes on to say

“Protecting the natural environment in order to build a world of peace is thus a duty incumbent on each and all. It is an urgent challenge, one to be faced with renewed and concerted commitment.

And so this Lent, once again I invite you fast…

   Fast from waste….

     And fast from over consumption.

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