https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032225.cfm
Home at Last
How heart-wrenching it is to stray from our Father’s loving embrace. Like the younger son in the parable, our sin- turning away from all that God provides for us begins long before we walk into the darkness of our immediate pleasures and our own will. Something within us stirs, causing us to feel a void even while we are still at home in His grace.
Doing our daily chores, faithfully fulfilling our Father’s will, and seeking to please Him in all things become routine because we love what pleases us in the moment more than our good Heavenly Father. Our stuff becomes more important than our Father, mother, brother, sister, and significant others.
So, we venture out independently, seeking to fulfill that immediate gratification. With each passing gratification, we grow emptier, more unfulfilled, until we remember how good we had it back home with our Dad.
It dawns on us that it isn’t our pleasures and having things our way that fulfill us. It’s the people God brings into our lives to love and cherish.
The memory of how good it was when we loved each other is the point of turning back to our Father to begin the long walk back. With each step, we become sorrier and more regretful for hurting Him. Notice that our focus has changed from us to our Heavenly Father.
Many take a long time before approaching the Lord in the Sacrament of His Mercy. Focusing on ourselves only produces guilt. No matter how hard we try, we can’t run or hide from it.
When we change our focus from ourselves to the Lord, he fills our hearts with deep sorrow. Our relationship with God comes to life again. Then, we approach Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We have a renewed love, even for our brother.
Gospel Challenge:
What a beautiful gift that sorrow is. That’s what Jesus feels for us until he absolves us from our sins. Then comes the open arms. Then comes the fatted calf, the ring on our finger, and sandals on our feet. These are all expressions of our Father’s joy that His child has come home, a joy that surpasses all understanding.
Some people think that they can receive forgiveness from God without Confession. Remember, forgiveness is about relationships. Only the pains and suffering of Jesus’ Passion can absolve sin. No one but Jesus can absolve sin. In Confession, we stand under the Cross of Jesus, and a drop of his Precious Blood washes our souls clean.
Let’s all eagerly hasten to the Sacrament of Mercy, for it is there that we find the balm for our wounded souls, the forgiveness that sets us free. Let’s all look forward to the Sacrament of Mercy with hope and anticipation.
It is offered every weeknight for a week. Please see the bulletin for the times.
Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
