There is a Longing

We have a popular parable from Jesus (and one of my favorites) in today’s Gospel. Many a homily, essay, book, etc. has focused on the Prodigal Son who requested his inheritance while his father was still alive, took his share, and spent it on frivolous vices. When the money ran out, he returned home in shame. I would like to turn our focus towards the older son in this reflection. He is angry over the banquet celebrating his brother’s return. He had always done the right thing and never disobeyed his father. The older brother sees this banquet as a reward for his brother’s selfish actions and refuses to join the celebration. His hardness of heart toward his brother causes as much pain to his father as his younger brother’s leaving did. “The father only is good. He loves both sons. He runs out to meet both. He wants both to sit at his table and participate in his joy.… [God’s] love does not force itself on the beloved.” (from Henri J.M. Nouwen’s book, The Return of the Prodigal Son) Th...

The owner of the fig tree is frustrated because the tree has not produced any fruit for three years. When asked to cut it down, his gardener requests one more year to give it special attention. If it continues to not produce fruit after that time, he'll cut it down. I see three figures represented in this parable. The owner of the tree is God, the gardener is Jesus, and the fig tree is us. God is the great Judge who, at the end of time, will sort the good from the bad, the produce from the weeds. The “year” that Jesus has to cultivate our hearts & souls, to intercede for us, is actually the whole of our lives. He will continue to clear out the weeds of sin and fertilize us with His love and mercy up to our very last breath. Accepting His care, we, like roots that grow deep into the soil, will become grounded in our Faith and fully bloom in Heaven. Even better, we actually have a group of gardeners tending to our growth. Our Blessed Mother Mary and all the saints in Heaven are i...

  Up on the mountain, Peter, James, & John witness Jesus’ Transfiguration. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus’ face changed in appearance, but doesn’t explain how. Matthew’s Gospel says His face “shone like the sun” and 2 Peter 1:16 says, “...but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” It’s safe to assume, then, that what they saw in Jesus’ face was a radiance far surpassing anything they’d ever seen before. They knew they were on sacred ground, so Peter offered to make up three tents in honor of Jesus, Moses, & Elijah…a place to worship and remember the greatness of Jesus’ glory. They felt safe away from the cares of the world and wanted to remain there with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. God, however, had other plans. Seeing Jesus transfigured in front of their eyes was God’s message to them, revealing Jesus’ true identity and setting things in motion that would lead to His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. While it was good to step away from their regular lives, they needed t...

I’ve heard it said that the closer you are to God, the harder the devil will work his temptations on you. Can't get much closer to God than Jesus was in the desert! I was recently talking to a friend who experienced an amazing, deeply spiritual pilgrimage last year. Since then, she's felt extreme pressure daily from the evil one’s attempts to distract her. She could pinpoint the exact tricks he used to keep her from getting to Mass just that morning. The devil sure is persistent, isn’t he? Look at his attacks on Jesus in the Gospel. Four times he tried to tempt Jesus in the desert and four times Jesus resisted, using Old Testament Scripture to thwart each attempt.  Oh, that we could all have the strength of Jesus to resist the devil & all his lies! But we do! We don't have to have a Bible verse each time we're attacked, although it definitely wouldn't hurt to put a few to memory. All we need to say is, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I renounce you evil one!” An...

  “You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.” I once heard that the faults, traits, or behaviors that irritate us most in others are often those we are most guilty of ourselves. After learning that, I began to take notice of some pet peeves I had about the people around me. Lo & behold, I was just as culpable! OUCH! I was (and still am at times) that hypocrite Jesus is calling out in today’s Gospel. Perhaps calling out those faults in others is a way to make us feel better about ourselves. Maybe it’s an attempt to mask our own faults in hopes that others will not see them in us. But…if we can see them in those around us, I’m pretty sure others can see them in us as well. And remember, absolutely nothing is hidden from God!  Ash Wednesday is coming up in just a few days, beginning our great penitential season of Lent. This would be the perfect time to reflect on our faults and ask God f...

All media (social, news outlets, magazines, etc) is flooded with differences these days. It seems that everyone is quick to spout off their opinion & harshly criticize those who oppose them. It's frustrating to pull up my Facebook feed & be flooded with angry, rude (often vulgar) views about politics, religion, education, whatever the current hot topic is. Jesus tells us in today's Gospel, “Love your enemies and do good to them…”, and also “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.” What can be tough in those situations mentioned above is how to differentiate between what is being said & the person who is saying it. Many of the views I read on Facebook come from family members & friends I’ve had for a long time, people I care for & love. While they are not my enemies in a Vietnam or World War sense, some of their comments do offend me & my values. I have three choices: I can choose to criticize right back at...