Gulf Pine Catholic
•
September 9, 2016
5
Midway Family Care
Walk-In Clinic is a primary
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00
1009 Byrd St. (at Hwy. 90)
Ocean Springs, MS
H. Todd Coulter, M.D.
228-875-7474
MIDWAY FAMILY CARE
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Many trip destinations: the Holy Land; Italy;
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je; Lourdes; Fatima; Ireland; Scotland; Eng-
land; Austria; Germany; Switzerland; Turkey;
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We also specialize in custom trips
for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons
(Hablamos Español)
855-842-8001
508-340-9370
call us 24/7
9274 Hwy 49/Airport
Gulfport, MS 39503
228-863-5525
1-800-880-2446
FAX: 228-863-9612
Today’s readings highlight the continuous cycle of
God’s love and mercy that weaves throughout the Old
and NewTestament Scriptures. With their human leader,
Moses, absent from their presence
only a short time (because he was
on the mountain receiving the Ten
Commandments) the Israelites
let their passions run wild.
They move from grumbling and
complaining to blasphemy and
idolatrous behavior by building a
golden calf and worshipping it as
their god. Seeing their infidelity
and offensive behavior, God
threatens to destroy all of them
and start anew with a people more
deserving of his care. But Moses
appeals to God for one more (not
that it would be God’s last) act of
love and mercy and God relents
of the punishment he had threatened.
Three thoughts for reflection from this passage:
1. Despite all that God had done for the people he
liberated from Egyptian slavery, and His continuing
provisions for their well-being, they yielded to the
desires of the flesh and thereby tested God’s love and
mercy.
2. Do we recognize our own actions as similar to the
“stiff-necked people” described here?
3. While they had Moses as their intercessor, Jesus
has given the Church the Sacrament of Reconciliation
where we can implore God for mercy and forgiveness.
How quickly will you run to Jesus through this
Sacrament and receive the grace to start anew?
The response for Psalm 51, “I will rise and go to
my father,” answers the question of our running to
Jesus through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There
is a sense of urgency to our admitting to the problem of
rebellion and correcting it. Run, don’t walk to Jesus, and
plead for mercy, for God’s compassion to wipe out your
offense. The Psalm continues by desiring a, ‘clean heart
and a steadfast spirit’ which can only be accomplished
by living and being in the state of grace. ‘A contrite
and humble heart, O God, you will not spurn” (Psalm
51:19b).
St. Paul in today’s letter to Timothy acknowledges
Jesus Christ as his rescuer from the path of destruction.
Despite his arrogance, blasphemy and persecution of
Christians, Paul experienced God’s grace, love and
mercy. In turn, he became an example for those who
would come to believe and receive everlasting life. Paul
now uses the experience of a personal encounter with
Jesus to declare that Jesus Christ came into the world
to save sinners -- this is God’s greatest desire, that none
would be lost. What witness are you proclaiming so that
all people you know will come to believe in Jesus and
receive everlasting life?
The rule of three or power of three is a writing
principle that suggests things that come in threes are
more satisfying, more memorable and more effective.
The Latin phrase, “omne trium perfectum” (everything
that comes in threes is perfect, or every set of three is
complete) conveys the same idea.
Today’s Gospel contains three parables (a number
representing perfection; think the Trinity, the patriarchs,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jesus’ resurrection on the
third day, etc.) that help us grasp the immense and
unprecedented love, mercy and forgiveness of God.
Each of the parables presents a story of things lost and
things found with the resultant joy that comes when
God’s will is accomplished in the hearts of humankind.
The overriding premise of these parables is to show
God’s desire for no one to be lost.
All three parables are addressed to the Pharisees
whose primary efforts were to flush out sinners and
assure their condemnation. Do you know anyone like
that? The first parable on leaving 99 dumb helpless
sheep unattended and surely to get into trouble or be
devoured by wolves, to go find one that is lost is a
major exaggeration and attention getter -- something no
single shepherd would do. But the overemphasis serves
to highlight the key point that God will do anything to
bring one lost sinner back. You and I are expected to
do no less. Ask anyone who works in RCIA ministry
and has had the blessing of witnessing a neophyte fall
in love with Jesus Christ, come into full communion
with the church and serve the Lord with gladness. In the
second parable, lighting the lamp to find the lost coin
is God’s way of illuminating the darkened areas of our
lives. We can then sweep clean the shame and stain of
sin and search diligently (without giving in or giving
up) for the value that brings restoration and joy.
The third parable of the prodigal son is unmatched
for its beauty and portrayal of God’s burning desire for
oneness with his creation. It cuts to the heart of every
parent that has suffered rebellion and rejection, every
spouse who has experienced the humiliation and pain
of unwanted separation from the one who was to be
a lifetime companion, and every child who has felt
unwanted or has suffered the shame of abuse. It reveals
the potential of the cruelty of man verses the unrelenting
love and mercy of God.
The Father gives example of how we handle
such rebellion, rejection, shame, and hurt that
causes heartache. First, we try for reconciliation and
restoration and if that fails make sure our hearts have not
turned bitter by willfully forgiving. Then, with prayer
and courage we wait for a time for the other to ‘come
to their senses’ and return first to God and then to the
restoration of human relations that have been fractured.
Absent of that we will only the best for the other and
turn our hurt over to the Father through reconciliation
with our Lord Jesus Christ who will strengthen us to
carry on.
In our experiences, whether we are prodigal or
bearer of the burden of one who is, the parable assures
the vigilance of the unchanging Father full of love,
compassion and mercy always waiting and watching
for that which is lost to be found. A great cause for
rejoicing is the guarantee that God loves us so much
that he cannot take his eyes off us.
For Reflection:
1. In what ways do you see people neglecting God
or only affording him attention when it can benefit them
personally?
2. What were Paul’s greatest attributes as a disciple
of Christ?
3. Read Psalm 51. Describe what it means to have a
clean heart and a steadfast spirit.
4. How would you advise a person drifting from
God to “Come to their senses?”
Action Response:
Look for someone who is rebelling against God.
Apply the zeal of Moses and intercede for them to
be restored to faith. Don’t quit until restoration is
accomplished. Write in a journal what you learned from
the experience.
Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is
assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his web-
site:
.
1st Reading: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
Psalm: 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Gospel: Luke 15:1-32
24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Lost and found
Deacon Torrell
i
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