FourthSundayofLentWeekendofMarch5/6,2016
TodaywehearoneofthemostbelovedstoriesintheGospelofLuke,Jesus’parableoftheProdigalSon.Reconciliationisaprominenttheme.Seeingtheyoungersonreturningtohim,thesonwholeftthefamilyandsquanderedhisin-heritance,thecompassionatefatherrunstoembracehim.JesusoffersusavisionofalovingGodwhoismercifulandforgiving,welcomingusbackwhenweremorsefullyreturntohim.WhenwasatimethatIleftGod’spresencethroughmyownsinfulness?DidIhumblyandsorrowfullyrepentofmyactions?HowamIusingthistimeofLenttohumblyatoneformysins?WillIeagerlycelebratethesacramentofreconciliationinthenextfewweekstoexperienceGod’slovingembraceandforgiveness?
FifthSundayofLent
WeekendofMarch12/13,2016
StrongwordscomefromSaintPaulintoday’ssecondreading.He revealsin nouncertain termsthat lifein Christisourgoal.Everythingelse,hemaintains,is“rubbish.”Junk.Trash.Garbage.Isthattrue?Iseverythingelse“rubbish”comparedtodeepeningourrelationshipwiththeLord?WhataboutputtingrecreationalactivitiesaheadofattendingMass?OrpreferringuninterruptedhoursplayingthelatestvideogamesorwatchingTVtospendingtimeinabiblestudygroup,choirpracticeorservinginasoupkitchen?Orkeepinglatehoursatworkoversharingthegospelwithfriendsandneighbors?TowhatextentdoweexercisestewardshipoverourrelationshipwithChrist?
PalmSundayofthePassionoftheLordWeekendofMarch19/20,2016
Inthepreludetotoday’sgreatPassionNarrative,SaintPaulremindsusthatwefindourhopeinthe“emptiness”and“humility”ofChristJesus;alifethatledtothecross,butthroughthecross,togloryandexaltation.Thewayisnoteasy.Goodstewardsknowthatitrequiresawillingnesstolayasideallrightsofpersonalprivilege;emptyingour-selvesintheserviceofothers;embracingvaluesdifferentfromthevaluesoftheworld.Itrequiresanunderstandingthattobe“inChrist”meanstobea servant becauseChristcameintotheworld,notasLordbutasservant.Whatcrossesarewewillingtocarry?WhatworldlyvaluesarewewillingtoforegoinordertoshareChrist’sglory?
Easter SundayMarch27,2016
Intoday’sfirstreadingfromtheActsoftheApostles,PeterboldlyoffershistestimonytotherisenChrist.Hesharedwiththecrowdswhathehimselfwitnessed:Jesus’friendship,healingandforgiveness.Peterproclaimsaresurrectedlifethatbringshope.TheChristianlifeis,indeed,aresurrectedlife.Itisnewlife,oneoftruth,innerjoyandgenuinefulfillment.Godhastransformedourlivesforalleternity,andthattransformationiswhatitmeanstobeaChristian.Doyouknowtheresurrectedlife?Haveyougenuinelyexperiencedit?Goodstewardshave,andintheirjoy,theyarecommitted,like Peter,toofferingtheirownwitness.Itistimetorejoice.ChristtheLordisrisentoday!Alleluia!