Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/22/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/22/2014

“God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”

(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

Pope Francis’ words today seem to echo the point of Jesus’ parable in Luke’s Gospel today. The younger son does not give up on the father’s forgiveness but the older son does. A more important question is do we?

The story of the Forgiving Father (Luke 15: 1-3, 11-31) is what we are asked to reflect on today. I have used this parable many times, often when I am preparing young people for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. For me the first half of the story about the younger son and his return home is a great image for the sacrament. All the elements of the sacrament are there, recognition of sinfulness, the journey to the sacrament, saying we are sorry and forgiveness.

The second half of the story about the older brother reflects another side of sinfulness. We often only think of sinfulness as bad things that we do. We think of the Ten Commandments. However, sin can be what we don't do. Sin can be standing in judgment, self-righteousness, pride, envy, jealousy and anger especially when we think we are right. Sin can be refusing to be part of the family, part of the faith community. Sin can be thinking only of ourselves and playing the victim card.

I have always felt this story presented the two sides of sin and often for many of us the older brother is where we usually find ourselves. The hopeful sign in the story is that the father is in the whole story. He is where ever we are. Always willing to forgive, always willing to welcome us home, always willing to come out and welcome us into the family, into the celebration. All we have to do is not give up and let go of what we have done or failed to do and accept his forgiveness, his love!

Have a great Saturday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Compassionate God; grace us with the strength to make the journey home to you. Give us the wisdom to see our faults, our failings, our struggles and to accept your forgiveness. Fill us with a hope that helps us to see past our disappointments, that helps us to let go of our pride, our envy, our jealousy, our resentment, our anger so that we may always be a part of the family, a part of the celebration. Embrace us with your presence so that we may always believe that you are our kind, merciful and loving God. Grace us with a joy that will always bring us home. Amen!

Runner's Thought: As you run look for good in the world that you pass by, look for good in the people you encounter, sense the good in you and know you do not run alone, God runs with you!

Daily Blessing: Happy Saturday everyone! This afternoon I will head to Yorktown Heights, NY and St. Patrick’s Parish where I will begin a mission tonight. If you want the particulars check my web site calendar, you can find all the information there. (preacherman.org) If you are nearby why not joins us. As always I ask your prayers for the faith community at St. Patrick’s this week and their preacher. You can be assured that I will keep you in my prayers.

I pray this morning that God will bless your Saturday and your weekend. I hope you are having a good beginning to your Saturday and that this weekend will be kind to you. May God bless you with some distance from the busyness of the work week and if that is not possible may you at least be blessed with a few moments of calm sometime this weekend. Enjoy your weekend with family, friends, or whomever you meet. Blessings upon all your endeavors and upon you and your loved ones! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul