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Dear Friends,
In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus tells us one of his most popular and most important parables, the story of the prodigal son. I believe this parable is so appealing to us because the characters in it are all people to whom we can relate. At various times in our lives, most of us have probably walked in the shoes of the prodigal son, the older son, or the father. There may be times in our lives when perhaps we have even been all three of these at the same time!
Jesus wants us to understand all three characters, because it is only by understanding them all that we can truly comprehend who we are in relation to our loving God. The prodigal is obviously the sinner, the one who recklessly lives his life, ignoring his responsibilities and forgetting the values and the goodness his father taught him. The older son, who is faithful and responsible, is hurt because it seems the father has showered too much attention on his reckless and carefree brother. The father simply wants both of his sons --- regardless of their sense of responsibility or lack thereof --- to know how very much he loves them and how very much he wants them to remain with him.
The point, of course, is that God loves us as completely and as wholeheartedly, as the father in the parable. God doesn’t care what we’ve done or how we’ve sinned. He also doesn’t care how many times we’ve sinned, or how long we have stayed away. He simply wants us to know how very much he loves us, and how very much he wants to share his life with us. God’s love, like the love of the prodigal’s father, is great enough and powerful enough to penetrate even the greatest sin, so that we can return to God and become whole again.
As we listen to this great lesson from Jesus, perhaps it is a good time to remember the great gift we have as Catholics in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Penance. God wants to share his great love and his life with us through this sacrament. It is not meant to judge us or to belittle us or to make us feel uncomfortable. The purposes of this sacrament are to bestow on us God’s mercy, to forgive our sins, and to reconcile us to God’s love.
I encourage you to celebrate this sacrament. Don’t be afraid. In most places, but especially here at Saint Timothy’s and Saint Bartholomew’s, you will be welcomed by compassionate and caring priests, who want to simply share God’s love for you as you meet Jesus in this sacrament of peace. Remember that we usually celebrate the Sacrament of Penance at Saint Timothy’s on Saturday afternoon from 3:15-4:15, and at Saint Bartholomew’s at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon and at 9:30 on Sunday morning, and at any time by appointment.
Next Sunday is Catechetical Sunday, on which we thank God for and honor those men and women who serve as teachers of the faith. At the 9:15 Mass next Sunday, we will be offering a blessing to all of our Parish Religious Education Program and Christian Initiation catechists, as well as our school teachers, as they begin their new school year.
This past Wednesday we resumed our weekly Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Exposition takes place every Wednesday morning in Saint Timothy’s lower church, from after the 8:30 Mass until 12:00 Noon. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated at Noon.
Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.
Love and prayers,
Father Olivere