-Last Sunday's homily is available by email
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishlincletter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm, 8:00am and 12:30pm
Do We Really Need a Change?
The experience of the transfiguration, the biblical story for this Sunday's mass, raises the question more than once as to whether or not we believe that this change about which Jesus is speaking ( repentance) is really necessary. Jesus of course announces his program/mission as "repent, the kingdom of God is near". But we must acknowledge and submit to his changing grace in our lives.
This word repent could be defined as "changing the direction in which you are looking for happiness". The fundamental word in that definition is "change". The Pharisees, the disciples, and we, the contemporary followers of Jesus, cannot believe that change is really necessary.
This lack of "repentance" ( The conviction and the affection for change) ties into the great year of mercy. We cannot experience the mercy of God until and unless we acknowledge our need of mercy. Do we really need to change?
In our parish vision for "every one add one" the first step of accomplishing that vision is "renew". Do we see the need to be renewed in our faith? To change or grow the way that we find fulfillment and happiness in our faith as Christians and Catholics in our parish life and communion of St. Albert the great
This idea of "repentance" or as we might say "change" or as Jesus discusses in the Gospel today transfiguration - changing in the shape of our appearance as the children of God- is at the heart of our ability to change. If we do not see the need to change ( repentance) we can not respond to God's call to change. God and God's grace does the changing but our acknowledgment/repentance is necessary for God to accomplish this change.
I know God is all-powerful however he will not change us without our inviting that change in our lives
1 comment:
I have not thought of repentance this way before - change. But as I read the Matador's reflection and consider it, I see it as a very practical and helpful way to assess the path that we are on. His counsel seems to fit that so often if we have fallen into bad habits, or are using poor judgment, or even if life just seems amiss - we might find that this advice to "change the direction in which we are looking for happiness" to be the directive that will best assist us in setting things aright. It is typically hard to change - but it is impossible to do so without our own active participation!
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