Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Friday of the 4th Week of Lent
With some help from 4th graders at Cathedral School, Fr. Andrew comments on how John’s Gospel builds the tension that will ultimately lead Jesus to his Cross.
Tag Archives: Forgiveness
5th Sunday of Lent – Mercy!
Study: Reflect on a time in life when you made a grave mistake or serious sin. How did you face it?
Pray: Is there something that is keeping you from the Lord or another person? Ask the Lord for the grace to reconcile.
Serve: Is there a situation in your life that offers you a chance to extend mercy? Consider ways to make it happen.
5th Sunday of Lent Readings – Year C
Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast
Have you ever been clearly in the wrong? Made a mistake that was self-evident and completely your own fault? Don’t worry…you’re in good company. As much as we don’t like to admit it or claim it, we have all fallen short of the Lord’s commandments. We sin.
There are a couple of easy traps that we need to avoid:
- Assuming that it is no big deal, and downplaying our fault
- Making it an all-consuming mountain, beyond hope of redemption
What we find in the Gospel today is something in between that exemplifies God’s Mercy. The woman caught in adultery (where’s the man?!) is dragged before the Lord and forced to stand out in her shame as the people try to trap Jesus.
His response is profound. “Let the one among you who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one the realization of their own sins causes the crowd to dwindle away; they have all fallen short, and they have all been in need of mercy.
Yet the Lord is not done. After all, he is the only one without sin in the group! He alone has the right to carry out judgment. Yet this is what he says:
“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin.”
Note both points:
- Jesus acknowledges the sin. It is clearly and directly stated.
- Jesus extends mercy. His mercy begins her reconciliation and healing.
In light of this Gospel I suggest the following takeaways:
- What sins do we need to acknowledge, confess, and claim?
- What steps do we need to take to start the process of reconciliation?
- We draw near to Christ…who extends mercy to us!
As we embark on the last weeks of Lent, may we never fear to approach the Lord in our sins. For as we honestly claim our faults we draw forgiveness from the one who came to save and set us free.
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The image is taken from the movie The Passion of the Christ.
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4th Sunday of Lent: Open the Door of Mercy. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast – 4th Sunday of Lent
This Gospel parable is well known and applicable to our lives today. There are times when we can identify with both sons – either in need of mercy or called to give it – and we find a Father who runs out to meet us where we are. May we open wide the doors of our hearts…and encounter Mercy.
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Mercy: We need it, God gives it. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s presentation on Mercy – 15 Minutes
How do we understand mercy as it applies to our lives? What does it mean and how can we practice mercy – both receiving and giving – in our interactions with the Lord and one another? This short talk offers some practical points and an example from Jesus in the Gospel of John. Given during the “24 Hours with the Lord” at the Cathedral on March 4, 2016.
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Daily Mass: Forgiveness. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Lent continues to drive home the point that forgiveness is crucial for our faith – an essential ingredient in a healthy spiritual life. Who do you need to forgive today? Who do you need to seek out and ask for forgiveness? Christ shows us the way and commands us to carry it out.
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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
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4th Sunday of Lent – Two Sons
Study: Reflect on your life for a moment. When was a time you really (REALLY) messed up? When was a time you were upset that others didn’t “get what they deserve” when it came to punishment?
Pray: What in your life needs God’s forgiveness and mercy right now? Ask for the Lord’s grace.
Serve: How can you reach out to others, to foster reconciliation and a new beginning? How can you help heal a situation in your life?
4th Sunday of Lent Readings – Year C
Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast
Who doesn’t know the parable of the Prodigal Son? This story told by Jesus has 3 main characters:
- The Father – who reaches out to his sons
- The Younger Son – who is reckless and wasteful in his sins
- The Older Son – who is angry and unwilling to forgive his brother
Let’s start with the Younger Son. He messes up – no question about that. He presumes his inheritance, wastes it on sinful living, and is reduced to abject poverty through his own fault. Finally, at the end of his rope he comes to his senses and asks for mercy, if only to be a servant in his Father’s house.
The Older Son is dutiful, hard working, and faithful. He does his duty and carries out every command. Yet when he hears how the Father celebrates his younger brother’s return he is angry…it’s not fair!
Finally the Father. Note how the Father goes out to both of his sons. The Father takes the initiative:
- with the Younger Son he runs out to meet him and assure him a place in the household
- with the Older Son he goes out to meet him to encourage forgiveness and welcome
Perhaps we might use the next few days to consider this simple question: Which Son am I? Have I made some really bad mistakes, caused harm, and wounded relationships with others? Have I held on to a grudge, nursing old injuries, unwilling to forgive and seek reconciliation? Or perhaps we are a mixture of both – making our share of messes and denying mercy to those in need.
Whatever we discover about ourselves, we will find our Father who comes to meet us where we are and lead us to a deeper level of grace. May we return to the Lord in our need and be filled with the grace of healing reconciliation.
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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
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3rd Sunday of Lent – Repent – Catholic Inspiration
3rd Sunday of Lent Readings – Year C
The Lord is blunt and direct in the Gospel today: we are called to repent…or perish. The life-and-death quality of this command reminds us that God’s grace is ready to wash us clean – if we open our hearts through repentance and turn to the Lord. As God directed Moses and led the people from slavery to freedom, may we discover new life in Christ when we repent and believe in the Good News.
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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
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3rd Sunday of Lent – Repent
Study: Reflect on a time when you were forgiven. What steps took place to make it happen?
Pray: Is there something in your life that’s prompting you to repent? Ask the Lord for the strength to do it!
Serve: Is there a situation in your life that you can help bring healing and reconciliation? How might you be an instrument of God’s grace?
3rd Sunday of Lent Readings – Year C
Here’s a quick recap of the readings this week:
- 1st Reading: Moses encounters God in the Burning Bush
- Psalm: The Lord is kind and merciful
- 2nd Reading: Paul reminds the Corinthians not to grumble, like the people did with Moses
- Gospel: Jesus calls us to repent
On the one hand we hear how God takes pity on our plight, has great mercy, and longs to heal and love us. On the other hand, we also hear the crucial need to repent – to turn away from our sins and draw near to the Lord.
Remember this: God requires our repentance so that we can freely receive his mercy and forgiveness. Reconciliation means nothing if we aren’t sorry for what we have said and done. What’s more, without repentance we cannot begin to comprehend the unconditional love of Jesus on the Cross.
So what is our path to repentance? Consider these basic steps:
- Take time to review a good Examination of Conscience. If you haven’t looked at one for a long time, click here to see several versions from the US Bishops.
- After you have reflected on the Examination, what speaks to your heart? What sins is your conscience bringing up in your life?
- If the sin is against another, sometimes the easiest thing is simply to go to the person and say “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you.”
- If the sin is bigger, make the effort to go to Confession – one of the greatest gifts we possess in the Church.
The Lord is calling us – out of his awesome grace, mercy, and forgiveness – to repent. Make this Lent extra special, and may all of us take the time to review our hearts and be about the business of God’s healing love.
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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
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Daily Mass: Be Reconciled. Catholic Inspiration
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
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Catholic Schools’ Week Daily Mass: Forgiveness. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Catholic Schools’ Week Homily Podcast
Jesus gives us the example of how we forgive one another. Forgiveness can be part of our lives in two special ways:
- Cultivating an attitude that looks for the good in others
- Helping others to forgive, especially when it is hard
Special blessings to all our Catholic Schools this week!
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