This Week's Gospel .......scroll down for next week's
Sunday 5th September 2010; 23rd Sunday of the Year (Cycle C)
Parishioner’s Gospel:
Contributor: Barbara Davies
Luke 14: V 25-33
.....................A Counsel of Perfection?
To be aimed at, to work towards, but do not be too downcast if you fall short.
Failure to give up totally the things of this world does not keep us out of the kingdom of God
...just makes entry slower?....
The First Commandment is to love God above all else. Many of us can be happy with that.
The Second Commandment is to love one another. I find it much easier to “love” than to “like.”
How far will we go along with this?
If we are in earnest...as far as we can.......GOD HELP US.
Next Week: 24th Sunday of the Year (Cycle C) 12th September 2010
Parishioner's Gospel:
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder (Cjs.)
Luke 15: 1-32
Those whom the Pharisees and Scribes called sinners, were sitting with Jesus eager to hear His words.
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
These words, from the Pharisees and Scribes, shows that they were prejudging others.
Jesus wanted to show them that their attitude was wrong.
“I say what man amongst you, if from a hundred sheep lost one
would not leave the ninety-nine, in the desert neath the sun?
Finding lost sheep he'd rejoice, telling neighbours do likewise
Saying... share in my good fortune, tis indeed a worthy prize.
If those sheep were men, virtuous with good intent,
still rejoicing there’d be in heaven, if one sinner did repent!
What woman with ten drachmas, would not seek it were one gone.
When finding it would celebrate, for to her it did belong.
In the same way I do tell you, the angels with the Lord,
will exult in one repentance, of that do be assured!”
Jesus continued....“A man he had two sons.”
What led to this particular parable at this particular time?
The Prodigal Son we all know so well, but do we secretly sympathise with the “other” son?
He works well, does his father’s will and shows no disrespect. Exemplary behaviour but gets no reward, as he sees it.
Along comes his wastrel brother who has given his father such cause for stress, lived a wanton life and spent all the money his father gave him! He gets a wonderful welcome and has a party!
Not surprising our older brother was jealous, resentful and hurt. He was now in the wrong.
He did not agree, therefore did not trust in, his father’s judgement.
But the younger son trusted in his father’s judgement enough to come back to ask for forgiveness, which he felt his father would give, albeit he did not expect to be treated as a son again, but even life as a servant would be better than that he had suffered since the decline of his fortunes.
It is easy to take these parables literally, but what is really being said here?
Each of us has talents, gifts the Lord gave us. Are we squandering them, not using them for His work, or only for our own personal gratification?
Most of all are we judging others, for in our opinion, he/she is doing wrong?
As the father of the two sons says, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it is only right we celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life, he was lost and is found.”
These last words tell it all. Jesus is saying we all have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven!
Our lives begin anew, the past is eradicated, we now have the chance to live as Jesus wishes us!
The older brother,(we)..have to forgive also, not judge others and have complete trust in God.
(Saul of Tarsus was a prodigal son; he became Saint Paul!)
Ergo, there is hope for us all!
We are all prodigal sons, each and every one of us!
Lord we know that You’ll forgive us, for we’re the prodigal child!
In all our selfish ways Lord, we are running wild.
Just as does that father, in the Gospel read today,
our sins You will forgive us, if we ask You as we pray.
We must never judge what other people do,
this alone is Your choice, we accept that this is true.
Help us Lord to turn, from that devil’s evil hold,
so that Heaven will be our future, for this has been foretold. Cjs.