“Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So to them Jesus addressed this parable: ‘A man had two sons. . . .” Though we aspire, though we may try, though we may pray, we will never comprehend the extent and depth and desire of God’s mercy to touch, to grasp, to heal, to forgive. And no one is beyond Our Father’s love, His clemency. May I share a few thoughts from these Christian authors who touch upon the plenitude within this familiar story. “And ultimately, forgiveness is a gift of grace rather than an act of will. I have to be willing to forgive, but I cannot will myself to forgive. I can forgive with my mind, but forgiveness is finally a matter of the heart. And the forgiveness of the heart comes from God, not from me. My part in it is to be willing to accept it. One test which indicates whether or not forgiveness has really taken place is to look at whatever needs to be forgiven and see if it still hurts. If it does, forgiveness has not yet happened. But I have also learned, and I have learned it through pain, that I must be patient with myself. Just as my body is going to need more time to complete its healing from the physical trauma of the accident, so my heart, my spirit, also need time, and I, ever impatient, must be patient with myself.” (Madeleine L’Engle, Forgiveness Is A Gift) “The summons to live as forgiven and forgiving children is radically inclusive. It is addressed not only to the wife whose husband forgot their wedding anniversary but also to parents whose child was killed by a drunken driver, to the victims of slanderous accusations, and to the poor living in filthy boxes who see the rich drive by in Mercedes. . . .The demands of forgiveness are so daunting that they seem humanly impossible. The demands of forgiveness are simply beyond the capacity of ungraced human will. Only reckless confidence in a Source [God] greater than ourselves can empower us to forgive the wounds inflicted by others. In boundary moments such as these, there is only one place to go—Calvary. Stay there for along time and watch as Abba’s Only-Begotten dies utterly alone in a bloody disgrace. Watch as he breathes forgiveness on his torturers at the moment of their greatest cruelty and mercilessness.
 
 On that lonely hill outside the city wall of old Jerusalem, you will experience the healing power of the dying Lord.” (Brendan Manning, The Demands of Forgiveness) “For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life—pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures—and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair. Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.” (Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming) Within the richness of our Sacramental life, the healing power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation remains a vital grace in our relationship with Our Father through His Son’s abiding forgiveness.                              This Sunday we are offering our Lenten Communal Penance Service—the Sacrament of Reconciliation—at Sacred Heart, 1pm; and at St. Malachy, 3pm. In addition, adults and parents are welcome to receive this Sacrament with the Religious Education students, Wednesday evening, April 2nd, at St. Malachy; and Wednesday evening, April 9th, at Sacred Heart.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
“Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son to make a simple point: