Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends!

In today’s Liturgy we read Chapter 15 of the Gospel of Luke, also called the Gospel of Mercy mainly because it contains the three Parables of Mercy:  the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the “prodigal” son.

All three of these parables speak of the joy of God. God is joyful, God is joyful!! And what is the joy of God? The joy of God is "being for" others, is being “for”-“giving”, forgiving! He is “for” you!! Each Person of the Trinity is deeply hurt/saddened when they have to hold within themselves (because of our mistrust) the many blessings they want to pour in us. The joy of The Father is partaking ALL His divinity with you in His Beloved Son, through the Holy Spirit. The Father, your Abba, wants to lavish us with torrents of kindness, mercy, sense of belonging, purpose, etc… But again, because we tend to resist His Love and close our hands (trying to grasp) instead of extending them open to receive, He comes and whispers this: the joy of God is forgiving!

The joy of a shepherd who finds his little lamb; the joy of a woman who finds her coin; it is the joy of a father welcoming home the son who was lost, who was as though dead and has come back to life, who has come HOME.

With Pope Francis we can say that "all of Christianity is here, the entire Gospel!". Much more than a sentiment, or being a “doer” of correct things, mercy is the true force that can overcome evil, the power that can save the world from the “cancer” of fear and spiritual evil. Only love fills the void.

God is celebrating because He is Joy, and wants us to join Him. Let us never stay outside the Father’s house (losing its sense of Home), like the older brother who bitterly judged God and his sibling. We should always come back to our Father's embrace, to enjoy the Banquet and feel "homey". With Him we are invited to run with arms outstretched to receive our many siblings who come back every day and hour.

Big hug in Christ and Mary!

Fr. Remi