Gospel Reflections for March 15 2015
Easter is only a few weeks away, and for many families, that means a large dinner, with perhaps children returning from college, or other relatives and friends coming from faraway places for a big Easter reunion. What a great event!
The first reading recalls the remarkable story of the Israelite nation that had been captured and enslaved by Babylonians around six hundred years before Christ. During that exile they thought long and hard about why this had happened. Had God abandoned them? They gradually realized that their fate had been the result of their own arrogance and pride. Their aspirations for power threatened more powerful nations like the Babylonians and so they brought on their own defeat. Lesson learned!
Years later, a new King, Cyrus, granted their freedom. They could return home! It was a happy day for homesick Israelites to finally return.
While not all families enjoy family reunions, the feeling that Easter should be a time of close family gathering is universal. Holidays like this can be a time of reconnecting with our family origins and how we came to be the people that we are.
Maybe you are happy with how your family has turned out or maybe not. Perhaps you might have family members who are angry about past hurts. No family is perfect but I am sure that every family wishes things might have turned out better.
When people are hurt those feelings can last a long time. God can certainly join the company of those who have been hurt. The Old Testament has a long history of people turning against Him frequently. Even God’s own Son was condemned to death for no good reason. Yet, today’s Gospel offers a very different message.
Jesus announces that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” Despite our sinfulness, God will offer the example of love. God loves us because that is simply what He does. His love is not based on our goodness, but only on His unconditional love for us.
Parents know this well. Children often stray from the good directions that their parents set. It must be difficult for them to see that happen. Yet their love remains.
The Bible presents King Cyrus, a pagan, and Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, as great examples worth remembering. We want to enable those who have sinned the chance to return home. If you are the one who has sinned, wouldn’t you want to see that welcome mat at the front door?
These final weeks of Lent are our opportunity to also reflect long and hard about our own path. Let us remove whatever gets in the way of family closeness, and God, and return home to where God is ready to welcome us.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Image: Public domain
WOW lots to think about. My wife and decided instead of giving up material thing this lint we are challenging our selves to give up grudges and past anger. NOT easy! The above gospel can really in true meaning apply to everyone regrarless of religion and can be used to live a happier life.
Thank you
Well said! I like you Lenten practice of giving up grudges, which is often very difficult to do.
The Stations of the Cross show us what Christ endured to save us, to bring us home to the Father, and show us the unconditional love of God. The Serenity prayer also helps us to understand the connection and love of God.
Well said!
Great reflection, relates much to my situation. My brother turned on me and undermined our family company to put us intentionally out of business. Now recently turned my sisters against me, leading them to believe that I am the one responsible. I would so much like to prove them all wrong, take over and be successful once again, although there are financial ties. I do forgive them all for what they have done to my wife and I, and will let God handle the situation.
Thank You
Sounds like you have to face such a horrible family situation. Your response is very inspirational, especially since I am sure it must have been difficult. Please be assured of my prayers.
Your word reminded me how great God is.
My dad was a violent alcoholic. My two sisters & I would always have our backs to the all watching to see what would be next. We were blessed with a boxer dog that we kept in with us as she protected us. Growing up with a lot of internal anger, Finally in taking some (lets say) Bible courses in forgiveness, there was no choice but to forgive if I wanted to be forgiven. So I made the “choice” to forgive and kept doing it for 2 years and asked God to make it real in my heart. It was a real battle. With the help of several prayer partners to back me up and through an eye opening experience the forgiveness became real.
After that the anger left came compassion as the realization came that hurting people hurting people hurt others. My dad was raised by a violent alcoholic mother and he and his brothers new nothing else,.
I was the only sister to be with my dad before he died and he came out of senility long enough to ask me why he did all those things. I told him that I forgave him and I’m sure that my sisters would. I told him that the most important thing was to take it to the Lord and that our Father in haven is a forgiving dad trough His son Jesus Christ.
True forgiveness is life changing. Christ passed that unto us because it would set us really free in the long run,. Unforgiveness doesn’t really hurt the one we are angry at. It hurts us. All we need to do is look at the cross and see what He did for us.
Thank you for sharing a very compelling story of forgiveness. I know it was a long journey, but it sounds like you followed the right path!
Father Dave I really appreciate the prequel to Sunday mass which your reflections give me. It is such a blessing to see you in my in box. each week, and I always get food for thought which preps me for Sunday evening Eucharist . What a beautiful gift your words are to all of us! I especially love being reminded of how much we are loved by God. Peter and I have so much for which to be grateful!
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate them. Yes, I agree that you both have been blessed, and I believe even more blessings are on the way!
Thank you for giving us this insight from lent to Easter, and incorporating our family life & family struggles with God’s love & acceptance of us.
You gave me a lot to think about during this lenten season.
Thanks again..
You are very welcome!
Thanks for your homily, Father Dave. I agree with Gino.that the Stations are a vivid reminder of the sufferings of Christ. And, as a convert to Catholicism (like about 45 years ago), I can attest to the value of the “Tools” that we have in the Church to get closer to God and His Son. Those outside of the Church don’t know what they are missing if they do not utilize the statues, the Stations, the corpus crucifix and the veneration of Mary and all the Saints to keep us in a relationship with our Lord.
Well said! We have many spiritual tools for us to use.
Fr. Dave,
Bravo – perhaps after completing your two “How To” practical manuals for priests and pastors, you could prepare one for us parishioners (adding another “P” for a full set of “Three in One”)?
Wishing you all the best! Dio vi Benedica.
Sounds like a good plan! I work on that.
Dear Father Dave, Our Faith is such a miracle Faith of love!!! God gives the gift of Life!! Man sins! God sends His beloved Son to us to love us, forgives us, dies for us, redeems us!!!! We are asked to beautifully live in Jesus’ love, and love others and forgive!!!!II Incredible beautiful faith of love!!! Our God dies for us so that we can return to His beloved embrace!!!I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our faith so much!!! How blessed are we and we are blessed with precious you sharing God and Jesus’ love and forgiveness with us!!!
Love, Franca
Well said!
What a beautiful visual of home and family!
You have a way of commenting on real life situations and then challenging us
to live and love like Jesus. Thank you for sharing that.
I often wonder what Jesus meant when He said “In my Father’s house there are many mansions”
What are the mansions?
That Gospel is actually filled with marriage images. The “Marriage ceremony” at that time consisted of a groom preparing a room for his bride. He would then walk to her house and then escort her back to the prepared room in his house. Once she walked inside, they were married. The main image throughout the Old and New Testament is that the relationship we have with Jesus is that the Church is the bride and He is the groom. When He says that there are many mansions He is saying that He is “married” to all of us! It is one of the most beautiful sections of the New Testament.
Dear Father Dave.
I especially like your commentary on the Gospel this week. Easter is one of my favorite holidays because it is in the beautiful season of spring. Easter is a time of forgiveness and renewal. The Resurrection represents new beginnings in our lives and relationships.
Have you heard about the new show on the Travel Channel” Breaking Borders”? It discusses the relations of the people in Palestine and Israel. They also have a culinary segment on the foods of the region. It sounds very interesting!
Thanks for your comments. I have seen the ads for the series but have not seen the show yet. It sounds interesting.
What can I say Father Dave. You have been an inspiration in all of our lives at SPB. Wonderful message and we are challenged to live what you say,. You are truly missed
Thank you!