Friar’s Corner: Let us turn to Jesus with repentant hearts

Fr. Bob Hilz, TORFr. Bob HIlz, TOR

Isaiah 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Philippians 3:3-14; John 8:1-11

In keeping with the theme I started with this Lent let us see the great love and blessings that God wants to pour into us. Last week’s gospel story was about the wayward son who returns to his father with a repentant heart. The father did not welcome him and send him to work in the fields as any of the father’s servants. His father welcomed him with a great forgiving heart. He completely reinstated him to the family, clothed him and had a great party for his son who was dead and came back home.

That loving theme continues this week. St. John tells us the wonderful story of a woman brought to Jesus that the righteous Jewish leaders had caught in adultery. How they discovered that has always been amazing to me. Jesus did not condemn her and have her stoned. His love for her as a child of his heavenly Father, forgave her and reinstated her "into the family." This really bothered the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus continued to do unconventional things which went against what they though was the law of God. Jesus had not "graduated" from "their Jerusalem divinity school." He was trying to show them what God actually wanted to give his children on earth, which is his love and forgiveness.

The first reading this weekend from Isaiah the prophet is saying what God wants to do for us even today some twenty-five hundred years later. God says: "Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" How can we interpret that today? We all sins, even daily. God always wants to forgive us and bring us closer to himself. He wants to bless us and fill us more completely with his love. His unconditional love wants to so transform us that we glow in the world with more and more of God’s love like Jesus did.

Jesus went around looking for those who were sick and in need of great love. Jesus often blessed them on the Lord’s Day, for the Jews on Saturday. For us as Catholic Christians, he blesses us as we come to Mass, the greatest meal on earth. And Jesus is our most wonderful good. At that meal he always teaches us how to live our daily life as he did, blessing others.

Blessing and forgiving is what Jesus was about. So we go to Jesus begging forgiveness for our lack of understanding and cooperation with his plan for our lives. Jesus forgives us, feeds us on his scriptural teaching, gives us his power and sends us out to help others in need of his love. St. Paul follows that theme by telling us what he did. He didn’t look back at his opposition to Jesus and his followers. He thanked God for his forgiveness and love. Paul blessed God for his love and forgiveness. "I consider everything as loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

Dear friends, let us utter St. Paul’s words and thank God for his forgiveness of our past sins and failings. Let us rush into the open arms of our risen Savior.

Jesus, please forgive us and fill us with all you have for us so we can be your loving light in the world during this great Jubilee of Mercy, both now and forever.

Have a blessed week and a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(@ 2016 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)

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Nancy Ward

Nancy Ward writes about conversion, Christian community, and Catholicism. After earning a journalism degree, she worked for the Diocese of Dallas newspaper and the Archbishop Sheen Center for Evangelization, then began her own editing service. She’s a regular contributor to CatholicMom.com, SpiritualDirection.com, CatholicWritersGuild.com, NewEvangelizers.com and a contributing author to The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion. Now, through her Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies workshops, retreats, book, and DVD, she shares her conversion story at Catholic parishes and conferences, equipping others to share their own stories.

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