Friars Corner: Jesus makes us radiant with joy
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; Psalm 34:2-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3. 11-32
Last weekend I was quite ill with a bad cold or flu. I just wasn’t thinking clearly and never sent out my usual newsletter. May the Holy Spirit enlighten our minds to get the most out of the scriptures this weekend. Amen. The “I AM” statements in St. John’s gospel, I believe, most help us know who Jesus was and how he pours his love out on us even today. Jesus is the “Light of the World,” the “Living Water,” the “Bread of Life,” the “Gate or Door” of the Sheepfold, the “Good Shepherd,” the “Vine” for the branches, the “Way, Truth and Life, and the “Resurrection and New Life.”
When I prayerfully go over these readings, I look for what stands out most positively to me. Certain texts radiate me with joy. Two lines in Psalm 34 “jump out” at me. “Look to him (Jesus) that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame,” v6. It also says, “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord,” v9. Jesus often offers us himself as our daily Bread of Life. He also wants to fill us with so much of his love that we will spend a long time trying to understand why he loves us so much.
Parable with two images
Most of us have heard today’s gospel story of the Prodigal or Lost Son many times over the years during Advent and Lent Penance Services. Many retranslate this title to the “Loving or Forgiving Father.” The story is more about the love and forgiveness of the father than the son’s squandering of his inheritance in several ways. Eventually, he comes to his senses and returns to the loving embrace of his father in extraordinary ways. As we meditate about the details of this story we are amazed. The father does not condemn his wayward son. Rather he forgives him and lavishes on him extraordinary love. Jesus also said in verse 7, not quoted this Sunday: “I tell you, in just the same way were will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
This is a very good example of God’s love and forgiveness, which are poured out on us when we bring our sins and failings to Jesus in confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Though most sinners are not as extravagant as the son who wasted his father’s wealth, as we ask Jesus for forgiveness for all of our sins and we express our sorrow in the act of contrition, Jesus forgives all our sins and restores us to his good graces.
Two approaches to Reconciliation
I like the idea of bringing Jesus our dirty laundry and asking him to clean it up. And he does that. Or we could think of having a sin file on our computer. We bring those to Jesus and ask him to erase our sin file.
The computer comes back to Jesus asking if he really wants to delete our sins. How does Jesus respond? Yes, delete that file. And they are erased. Jesus will not remind us of what sins he has forgiven us. Amen! Those new images help many people understand what Reconciliation is all about. They have more joy and their fear is gone. I love to see that kind of joy in a penitent’s face. This is the second most important sacrament a priest has the power to perform. I love to hear confession and get people free and joyful.
God loves us so much. Let us run to his loving embrace.
Have a blessed rest of Lent.
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
