Tag Archives: spirituality

September 9, 2013

24th Sunday of the Year – Christ came to save sinners

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Sacred Hear of Jesus

Study:  Recall a time in life when you experienced God’s presence.  How did it give you strength and direction?

Pray:  Offer those needs in your life that need the Lord’s grace.

Serve:  How can you reach out right now to someone in need?  Who has God put in your life?

24th Sunday Readings

The readings this week explore the theme of salvation from a variety of different perspectives.  We discover God’s desire to reach out to us in the following ways:

First – Moses intervenes, God does not punish
Psalm – prayer for a clean heart, steady spirit
Second – Paul’s example of grace
Gospel – 3 parables of God’s desire to save us

The first reading shows Moses responding as mediator between God and the wayward actions of the people of Israel.  Moses pleads for the people, reminding God of the promises he made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Because of Moses’ intervention the people are spared; this example of mediation foreshadows the saving work of Christ.

The psalm and response connect to both the first reading and Gospel.  Psalm 51 is a powerful penitential prayer which seeks to renew in the reader a contrite and humbled heart.  This psalm could have been the prayer of the people of Israel after they discovered Moses’ mediation!  The response is taken from the Gospel reading and links us to the parables of Jesus.

The second reading offers St. Paul’s example of grace as an invitation for ourselves.  In his own sin and weakness Paul experienced God’s mercy, and thus reminds us that Christ came to save sinners.  Here we discover the reason for the Lord’s mediation in our lives – to lead us out of sin and into life.

The Gospel this week is a series of three parables.  The first two are really “twins” which explore the same theme – God taking the initiative to seek out the lost.  The last parable (the Prodigal Son) addresses the various aspects of our reception of God’s grace.

In this last parable we see the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness (the Father); we recognize sin and penitence (the younger Son); and we discern animosity, anger, and a wounded sense of justice (the older Son).

Where do we fit in?  Where do we see the need for mercy in our lives?  Where do we recognize our own sin and temptations?  When have we felt wounded or betrayed by another?  God’s grace extends to us all – the Lord reaches out to us that we might have abundant life.

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September 2, 2013

23rd Sunday of the Year – What is the Cost?

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Price Tag

Study:  Take a close look at your personal calendar and checkbook and/or credit card statement.  Where do we spend our time and money?

Pray:  Is there a conflict of values in your life?  Ask the Lord for guidance and direction.

Serve:  How can I help someone today focus on the values and priorities that will bring true and lasting peace?

23rd Sunday Readings

I am not a shopper.  I am one of those people who takes pride in getting in and out of stores in the shortest period of time.  In fact, when I make my lists for the grocery or department store I often keep them on me, so that if I have a moment between meetings I can run and get what I need.

In my haste I find that I do not always pay attention to the price.  Later, I find in conversation that I could have gotten the item at a substantially reduced rate – if only I had paid attention to the cost.

We measure the value of most things by what they cost.  “What’s the price tag?” is a question that reveals our priorities and goals.  The cost of something AND our willingness (or unwillingness) to pay for it tells us much about what we think is important.

It is this notion of cost that surfaces in Luke’s Gospel today.  Jesus makes it very clear to the crowds that the cost for being a disciple is EVERYTHING.
*Friends
*Family
*Possessions
*Health
*Our very Lives

All that we have and all that we offer belong to God, and it is the Lord who will demand everything back when we stand in the Lord’s presence on the day of judgment.

To follow Jesus, then, is to recognize that all that we have is God’s gift given to us.  We are merely the stewards of the Lord’s possessions – entrusted to take care of what God has given us during our lives here on earth.

When we recognize the real cost of following Jesus – everything we have and are – then we begin to see that all of life is a blessing that we have to use, but will never own.  This is just another way of saying that “we can’t take it with us” when we die.  The cost for following Jesus is the understanding that everything belongs to God, and everything will one day return back to the Lord.

As we continue to see all of life as belonging to God, we begin to discover a new freedom in how we live and use what we have.  Guided by this freedom, possessions no longer rule our lives; rather, they become instruments by which we help others and enjoy the blessing of our lives as gifts from God.

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August 27, 2013

22nd Sunday of the Year – Humility

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

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Study:  Consider people you know who relate to others in a humble and open manner.

Pray:  Where in your own life can you ask God for the humility to address a situation or concern?

Serve:  How might you be able to humbly help another, without thought of reward or recognition?

22nd Sunday Readings

The first reading and Gospel today invite us to practice the virtue of humility.  This is a good reminder, especially since this virtue often gets little or no attention.  Let’s face it – humility is not the sort of idea that sells advertising or readily leads to promotions.  Often humility is viewed as an outlet for the weak and pious.

So what does it mean to be humble?  Here are a few things it is NOT:
* we do not grovel or belittle ourselves
* we do not pretend that we are worthless
* we do not ignore our blessings or talents
* we do not adopt a self-debasing attitude

Humility is a virtue that is fundamentally rooted in our faith.  It is based on these points:

1.  There is a God; I am not Him!

2.  I am made in God’s image & likeness

3.  God does not make junk

4.  I have sinned and made mistakes

5.  God has redeemed me through the Cross

In this light we are called to two essential elements.  First, we need to gain an accurate sense of PERSPECTIVE.  We recognize God’s presence in our lives, and we see and acknowledge our own sin and weakness.  We must truly examine ourselves in the light of the Lord’s grace and love.

Second, we are called to a faithful and healthy RESPONSE.  If I see and understand myself with honesty, then I will act in a manner that reflects my need for God’s forgiveness.  I treat others according to the teaching of Christ:  with love, forgiveness, mercy and hope.  Knowing our own sinfulness thus allows us to respond to others with compassion…… and humility!

Humility thus requires a few basic ingredients.  We are asked to honestly know our hearts; we discover and trust in the Lord’s grace; we respond to our brothers and sisters with heightened awareness; we recognize that our lives have meaning – as we share the gifts and talents (given to us by God) for the good of our world.

When these ingredients are present we discover a profound freedom and joy.  God loves us!  We are invited to see clearly and act accordingly, thus allowing our lives to honestly reflect our faith in Christ.

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