Not everyone listened to the words of Jesus, and like the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum we have the opportunity to take the message of Christ to heart…or experience the natural consequences that result.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 26th Week of the Year
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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Friday of the 1st Week of Lent
Jesus makes it clear that any offering we give to God must include forgiveness between one another. As Ezekiel reminds the people of Israel, we are called to turn away from the path that leads to evil and walk in virtue, justice and life – with the Lord and one another.
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If you are looking for more material to help you this Lent, you might consider this list of presentations I have offered over the last couple of years. Feel free to check it out and share if you find it helpful:
Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent
Study: What decisions am I facing right now? What resources can I turn to for guidance and direction?
Pray: How does my faith in Jesus Christ help direct my choices? Ask the Lord for insight!
Serve: Can I help someone right now who is facing a difficult choice?
17th Sunday of the Year Readings
Do you remember the old game show Let’s Make a Deal? The host was Monty Hall, a smooth talking guy who would present possible options to contestants. Those lucky few who were selected could take a certain gift in front of them, or they could choose from behind door number 1, 2, or 3 for an unknown prize.
The catch was that no one knew what was behind the door. Sometimes it was a bogus prize, worthless and unusual. Sometimes it was a fabulous gift, many times more valuable than the first prize they could have had.
I use to “play” the game with my grandmother. She and I would pretend that we were contestants. We would decide whether we would have stayed with what we knew, or would have risked it on something unknown. (And just for the record: Grandma almost always won…..)
The principle of the game was simple. Do you stay with what you have or do you risk it in the hope of winning much, much more? When is it enough? When are we satisfied? What is it that we really want?
Here are three points that often surface:
* Risk – What’s it worth to us?
* Priorities – What’s important to us?
* Satisfaction – When is it enough for us?
The game show’s appeal was strong because it was grounded in the same issues we face everyday. Life is filled with uncertainty and new challenges; we are routinely confronted with choices which require us to make decisions that can have great and small consequences on our lives. We have to explore a variety of questions, and in the process we learn a great deal about who we really are.
In the Scriptures today these choices are highlighted in the selection of Solomon and the Pearl of great price. Confronted by choices, the people in the readings determine risk, priority, and satisfaction before making their decision.
The same is true for us. God gives us opportunities everyday to make choices that reveal the content of our hearts. Through our actions and decisions we discover what we value. As we examine our lives this day, may we seek God first as we look to the Lord for guidance and wisdom to make good decisions.
Three Great Things 