Saturday, 2nd Week in Lent March 2, 2024

Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Saturday, 2nd Week in Lent,
March 2, 2024, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031023.cfm

Home at Last.

How sad it is to venture out alone, away from our Father. Like the younger son in the parable, our sin, walking away from all God provides for us, begins long before we walk away into the darkness of our immediate pleasures and our own will. Something happens to us that causes us discontent 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 our satisfaction 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 our focus has changed from us to our 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.
Let’s all get to the Sacrament of Mercy.

For your convenience, The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available every evening during Lent, starting on March 18 from 6-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Wed., March 26.

No confessions will be heard during Holy Week. Please take advantage of this
opportunity. We will continue to have confessions on Saturdays from 3-4 p.m.

Love Your Neighbor:
Please join me in praying for all baptized Catholics to be faithful to Jesus in the Holy Mass every weekend. Hail Mary, full of grace…
Mother Mary, “I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you, I always want to belong completely to Jesus.” The Surrender Novena – InHeartland. https://inheartland.com/pages/the-surrender-novena

Peace be with you.

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.
pastor
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