March 13-14, 2010
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Joshua 5:9-12 Second Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-32
And for your Lenten consideration this weekend our chef is pleased to offer some tasty specials: indignant righteousness, youthful stupidity, conniving, tenderness, unexpected compassion, manipulation, implacable disdain, celebration, anger, and judgmentleness. All of these come with a vegetable and salad. With the approach of Spring many of us are growing weary with the severity of our Lenten Scripture selections.
Nonetheless, with this weekend’s imagery of a youthfully dumb son and the goody-good son who grows indignant with his compassionate father, we are urged to look at the inner ugliness to which we cling in the hopes of being proven ‘more worthy of God’s love’ than those we deem unworthy. In general, we Americans are mystified by the blood feuds that linger within some cultures for centuries. We are relatively quick to forgive and move on. Thus, we are now on speaking terms with former enemies, Vietnam is a trading partner as are China and Russia. While Toyota is having problems, Japan is a valued international partner as is the unified Germany. (With a little grace and courage Cuba may someday become the new Cancun!) We have no time or interest in seeking revenge or retribution for perceived darkness’ done centuries ago. YET, we do enjoy playing one-upmanship when it comes to those who we don’t understand…or don’t play by our rules….especially when it comes to faith. ‘May you burn in hell’ is the retort of many victims of crime…victims who otherwise describe themselves as pious Christians….except for that part about forgiveness and doing unto others as we wish they do to us.
As is true of many of the Scripture stories, all the characters in today’s parable can exist within each of us. Most of us have done stupid things. Many of us have gloated over someone’s foolishness…especially if we counseled them to choose differently. Many of us have felt that ‘life isn’t fair’ when those we deem unworthy are more successful than ourselves. And not a few of us have been the father figure caught in-between trying to do the right thing for everyone. At the end of the day it is important to remember that God is always free to do whatever God desires to do….just because we have wished someone to go to hell does not mean that we have the power to do that. God is always ready and able to forgive….and how does that make us feel? If God does not do our bidding….are we tempted to spitefully turn away from him…or even begin to see God as ‘the enemy?’ Some interesting thoughts to chew on during this last week of winter. Enjoy your meal.
Thank you for joining with our Corpus Christi Community on this Lenten weekend. As is our tradition, in anticipation of all-things Irish, those of you 21 and over are invited to enjoy some Irish holy water after Mass. May you be blessed with many good things that make you smile and laugh and may you find unexpected blessings in the things that make you weep and angry. Our Good Friday Prayer Breakfast is drawing closer and closer; please make your reservation soon to insure a choice table location for you and your guests. The Bulletin has news of other Lenten events as well as news about the Holy Week schedule and Easter Weekend schedule….please take a copy for your refrigerator door or to pass along to your neighbors who may have recently moved into the neighborhood but have not yet found their Catholic parish niche. As the ‘road rises to greet you and as the sun always shines upon your back’…may you also remember you are loved. FKB
