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Reconciliation: With the help of God's grace
Like most others, our family has its share of psychological and emotional baggage.
A particularly difficult part of it is in the story of our own prodigal son. It would have been easier if it had been only half a chapter long, as it was in Luke's Gospel. But it's lasted 15 years. Now that we're almost there, I realize that a journey to wholeness is like following switchbacks up a mountain.
In our case it began with a serious trauma and five people, including the injured one, ill equipped by our human weakness to recover quickly.
Fourth Sunday
of Lent
(Sunday, March 18, 2007)
Joshua 5:9a, 10-12
Psalm 34:2-7
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
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Unlike Luke's lost son, ours was agonizingly slow to even begin the return home. The home front wasn't particularly welcoming either.
But step-by-step, back and forth, he'd try and we'd try. Even with predictable fallbacks and periodic failures, we progressed. Mostly, I think, it was because we all wanted to so badly. We just didn't have it within our capabilities to make full reconciliation happen.
But we all continually sought God's help and strength. Through it we've grown in understanding; we've learned to love with patience and selflessness; we've matured and rediscovered the unconditional love at the heart of us.
In the last year something happened: I can't explain it, but without us knowing how, the slow, arduous journey broke into a trot. Now we find ourselves embracing in the road.
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Reflection questions
• What relationships in your own life need reconciliation?
• What attitudes of the loving father in Luke's story of the Prodigal Son are required to make it happen?
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The words of Paul explain what has happened for us through the constant saving act of Christ: "The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." We have a new relationship, a new family life, and Paul reminds us too, "All this is from God." It wouldn't have been otherwise.
This column is presented in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.
This week's readings
Week of March 18 - 24, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Reading I: Jos 5:9a, 10-12
Reading II: 2 Cor 5:17-21
Gospel: Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
Monday, March 19, 2007
Solemnity of Saint Joseph,
husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reading I: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Reading II: Rm 4:13, 16-18, 22
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Reading I: Ez 47:1-9, 12
Gospel: Jn 5:1-16
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Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Reading I: Is 49:8-15
Gospel: Jn 5:17-30
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Reading I: Ex 32:7-14
Gospel: Jn 5:31-47
Friday, March 23, 2007
Reading I: Wis 2:1a, 12-22
Gospel: Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Reading I: Jer 11:18-20
Gospel: Jn 7:40-53
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Pope's Prayer Intentions
March General Intention
Hearing God's Word. That the Word of God may be ever more listened to, contemplated, loved, and lived.
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March Mission Intention
Lay Formation. That the training of catechists and lay people may be the constant concern of those responsible for the young Churches.
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Prayer for St. Raphael Cathedral
O God,
Whose word is like fire,
who spoke to Your servant Moses in the burning bush;
who led Your people Israel out of bondage
with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night:
hear Your people as we call upon You
in both need and gratitude.
May the Cathedral fire purify Your Church
in the Diocese of Madison
so that our hearts may burn with the knowledge
that Your Church is built upon the bedrock
of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the intercession of Saint Raphael,
Your messenger of healing,
in union with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,
and with our Bishop, Robert C. Morlino,
may we find comfort in our affliction
and the courage to proclaim
the Good News of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen.
For more prayer resources visit the Office of Worship's Web page at www.straphael.org/~office_of_worship/
(Click on the link on the main page.)
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