Continue reading »]]> Read Sunday’s gospel, John 20:19-31.

Gospel Summary
Because they still did not understand all that Jesus had told them, the disciples were huddled together, frightened, in a room. The doors locked, notwithstanding, Jesus entered the room and greeted the disciples with a sign of peace. Some have interpreted this sign of peace as more than the “all be well with you,” variety but more of the “shalom” type which entails a perfect harmony with God. In any case, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and came to understand the peace Jesus intended. The authority and power to forgive sins was also given to the Church at that time. It happened that Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared, but the following week, Jesus returned and Thomas was present. He would only believe what he had heard about Jesus’ appearance if he could touch the wounds in Jesus’ body. Jesus invited Thomas to do so, but also told him that the people who believed without seeing or touching were truly blessed.

 
Reflection for Families
Our children often come to us frightened about one thing or another. It is our job to calm their fears and generally we do a pretty good job. But sometimes, our doubts or concerns are the same as theirs. When this happens, we’re not always sure how to answer them. And after reading today’s gospel, we may think that our faith is not strong enough. But doubt does not necessarily mean a lack of faith. Sometimes the best thing we can do is tell our children that we wonder about the same things they do and then together think about how our faith helps us answer the concern. Generally, these conversations revolve around a serious illness or death in the family and what happens when we die. It’s not “lack of faith” that causes us to not know. It is a lack of knowledge because, it’s true, none of us knows exactly.
 

Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Since this gospel passage reminds us that the Church received the power to forgive our sins, this might be a good time to talk about reconciliation as a family and how receiving forgiveness–from one another or through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, helps us heal and grow. If your family did not celebrate the sacrament during Lent, this might be a good time to go to Reconciliation as a family.
 

Discussion Starters

1. I’m a lot like Thomas because…
2. I was afraid, but felt the peace of Jesus when…
3. The best part about forgiving—or being forgiven—is…

Continue reading »]]> As a teen-ager, I was chomping at the bit to leave home and get on my own, thinking this is the way I can do what I want. I thought I was quite capable of ordering my own life!  My father, the practical one,  encouraged me to get a job. He set up four envelopes – church, bills, savings account and personal use. Each time I cashed my check, I had to place a percentage [mutually agreed upon] in each of the first three envelopes. Soon I realized it wasn’t as easy as it looked! By the time I filled the first three envelopes, I realized how expensive living was ! So in reading our Gospel this Sunday, I can identify with the son who is chomping at the bit to leave home.

The Gospel begins with the Pharisees and Scribes complaining that Jesus welcomes sinners – how little do they understand God! So Jesus tells a parable.  When the son comes to his senses and returns home, he experiences a merciful father who clothes him in dignity and honors him with a feast.

This parable reminds us of the mercy of God. This parable reminds us that God longs to embrace and celebrate with us. Coming to understand mercy and forgiveness from God’s perspective changes our attitudes about ourselves and others.

Sinners, though we are, our Father longs to embrace and celebrate with us. Let us recall God’s graciousness and rejoice. Receiving God’s forgiveness and mercy and offering the same to one another is our journey from ” Ashes to Easter.”

Continue reading »]]> My father was a very patient man.  One year he took a peach stone and planted it in a small pot.  The first year yielded nothing. The second year – a small stick that really looked dead.  He then transplanted that “dead stick” into his garden. He fertilized it, watered it, cared for that “dead stick”. We asked him why spend the energy. Each time, my father said, “Give it another year.” Today, 10 years later, that “dead stick” gives us great peaches.

As my father was patient with that “dead stick”, how much more is God patient with us?  Our Gospel today gives us the parable of the fig tree. In this parable, Jesus reveals the patience of God with us, despite our slowness to repent, despite our slowness of letting go of our narrowness of life. How merciful God is. This is God’s mercy – to take what is almost dead and coax it to new life!

Our Lenten journey, our work of repentance is to turn sinfulness toward God’s transforming mercy.

Jesus offers us a challenge – “bear fruit” or “be cut down”.  Our encouragement – God is ever patient, God is ever merciful. God does not gives up on us.