Regarding Busy Pastors, (see Wednesday, March 26, 2008) Lizzy asked – “Isn't there some middle ground here with this question?” The Rev. C.P. wrote: “Most of us as pastors either are doing this or it is part of the local parish community actions....so I find the question being written with a bias in place... I find an integration of both liturgies and direct service/ministry as part of my 24 years as a priest in three different settings....”
On the other hand, Rene wrote, “Thanks for keeping me abreast with this important ministry--this is how we make the Incarnation a living and present reality!” Anonymous makes a point by saying, “It may not be the most palatable of questions, but the feedback and insights that others are having is prompting a great discussion. It seems as though serving the poor is less about the question. It’s also less about talk and like Nike we are called to ‘just do it.’ One can only imagine how happy our actions in this regard please the Lord.”
Lastly, Ileana and Sr. A. share similar thoughts, so the wrap-up comes from Sr. A. putting it all together, “…Each one us has a particular role while still on this earthly journey, as God had destined for us to function in His vineyard. Some have leadership role while others have the discipleship role. Like the different parts of our body; a hand cannot act as the head or the feet to be the mouth... There are many ways for us to be able to help the poor. Prayers, almsgiving, visitations are some of them. All corporal works of mercy should be done out of one’s generosity of time, treasure and talent…”
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Wednesday, April 2, 2008
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2 comments:
Watching EWTN this morning, Fr. Clifford gave a lovely talk which I'd like to paraphrase. I felt that someone needed to hear it today.
In the 15th chapter of Luke, Jesus, through His love, leaves us 3 separate parables to give hope to the hopeless, all of us lost in our homelessness. As Jesus sat with the beggars, the tax collectors, the homeless, the Pharisees and Scribes grumbled against Him, "Look how He welcomes sinners and eats with them!" Knowing what was in their hearts, our Divine Savior addressed them with the parable of the Lost sheep. In sum, He says that while a shepherd was out with his 100 sheep, one wandered off, losing its way. The good and gentle shepherd grew distressed at the loss of even one sheep, and left the others to find the one. Jesus goes on to talk about the rejoicing that shepherd would do when he finds the lost sheep, and how much greater the rejoicing is in Heaven when one of Jesus' homeless and lost sheep is found.
Jesus next speaks of the housewife who has lost a coin, and who diligently looks for it, sweeping through her entire household until she finds it, only to invite her friends to share in her joy at finding that coin. Jesus says there will be the same kind of joy in Heaven before the angels of God when one sinner repents.
Finally, Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son, that story familiar to most regarding the young man who asked for and received his inheritance, who squandered it, and who finally had to take the lowliest of jobs just to survive. He even craved the slops he gave the pigs, so great was the depths to which he had sunk. In Scripture it says that he finally "came to his senses" and decided to return to his father, not as his son, but to ask to be treated as a hired hand. As a parent myself, I can imagine the love that rushed up from the heart of the father, and spilling out in shouts of joy. I imagine how hard that father grabbed his son, how tightly he held on to him, the peace and happiness of being reunited with this lost child flooding through him. I even think that the joy of the father surpasses that of the relief of the child. The father proceeded to search out his greatest, most beautiful, most generous gifts he could find to shower upon his child.
In each of these parables, Jesus speaks to our homelessness. In each parable, the message is the same, "All is forgiven, come home, I miss you. I'll even go out and look diligently for you. I love you. I love you my child, more than you can ever know. Come with Me, and share in my treasures."
Anonymous, that is beautiful. Thank you for listening to the Lord, His word, taking the time to write and for sharing your thoughts.
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