Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Saturday, 2nd Week in Lent

March 22, 2025, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032225.cfm

Home at Last.

How heart-wrenching it is to stray from our Father’s loving embrace. Like the younger son in the parable, our sin, the act of turning away from all God provides for us, begins long before we walk into the darkness of our immediate pleasures and our own will. Something within us stirs, causing us to feel a void even while we are still at home in his graces. 

Not doing our daily chores, faithfully fulfilling our Father’s will, and seeking to please him in all things become routine because we love what pleases us in the moment more than our good Heavenly Father.

So, we venture out independently, seeking to fulfill that immediate gratification. With each passing gratification, we grow emptier, more unfulfilled, until we remember how good we had it back home.

That memory is the point of turning back to begin the long walk back to our Father. With each step, we become sorrier and more regretful for hurting Him. Notice that our focus has changed from us to our Heavenly Father.

Many take a long time before approaching the Lord in the Sacrament of Confession. Focusing on ourselves only produces guilt. When we change our focus from ourselves to the Lord, he fills our hearts with sorrow. Then, we approach Jesus in the Sacrament of his mercy.

Gospel Challenge:
What a beautiful gift is that sorrow. That’s what Jesus feels for us until he absolves us from our sins. Then comes the open arms. Then comes the fatted calf, the ring on our finger, and sandals on our feet. These are all expressions of our Father’s joy that His child has come home, a joy that surpasses all understanding.

Let’s all hasten to the Sacrament of Mercy, for it is there that we find the balm for our wounded souls, the forgiveness that sets us free. Let’s all get to the Sacrament of Mercy.

Love Your Neighbor!

 Fr. Rick Pilger, IC  

www.bscchurch.com