24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word:
True disciples bear the character of Jesus.
Theme:
We bear the character of Jesus when we are reconciled with God and our fellowmen.
Promise:
“There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(Lk 15:10)
Reflection:
We are at peace when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This is the Christian perspective of peace. And as Christians we are called to be true disciples of Christ. We are true disciples when we bear the character of Christ and strive to follow His teachings and example. The character of Jesus we are exhorted to emulate this week has to do with our relationship with God and our fellowman. Jesus wants us to be instruments of reconciliation and peace, and to help lead everyone to true repentance.
How do we react when wronged? Do we instinctively resent and condemn the wrongdoer, or do we try to help him recognize the wrong he has done, eventually leading him to seek forgiveness? Normally, our tendency as human beings is to harbor a grudge, or be vindictive. Not so with God. He is a merciful Father who does not judge us harshly, but rather is faithful and compassionate, the epitome of perfect love – patient, kind, does not envy, is not resentful, bears all, hopes all, and endures all things. God is love, and His love is inexhaustible!
The readings of the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time remind us how truly merciful our God is, and how He considers us as His greatest treasures. St. Paul,recognizing the nature of Jesus that brought about his conversion, writes to Timothy: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life,” (1Tim 1:15-16).
In the 1st reading, we see how God’s mercy prevails over the grievous sin of the Israelites, the chosen people of God. Although they turned away from God to idolatry, the intervention of Moses on their behalf was sufficient for the Lord to hold back his anger – “So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people,” (Ex 32: 14). Our all-knowing God understands our human nature, our tendency to disobedience, our impatience, our preference for the pleasurable. David is a good example. He was the anointed king of Israel, but sinned greatly against God – and against man (he deliberatelyarranged for Bathsheba’s husband to be killed in battle in order to have Bathsheba for himself). But when he begged for God’s mercy, he received forgiveness. His prayer in Psalm 51: 3-4, 12-13 can be our prayer: “Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.”
In three gospel parables, we are shown that while God demands justice, He does not ignore the sinner. In the parable of the lost sheep, God points out that His heart longs for the sinner, and will find a way to bring him back to His fold. In the parable of the lost coin, God shows how He treasures and rejoices over one repentant sinner who has found his way back to Him. Finally, in the story of the prodigal son, we realize two important things. First, God, our Father, is always waiting for us to repent and be reconciled with Him. God patiently waits for the day when we recognize our disobedience and arrogance, and in sincerity, humbly pick ourselves up to come before Him to seek forgiveness for our many wrongdoings. The second lesson is that God expects us to be reconciled and at peace with our fellowmen. There should never be any discrimination against a brother or sister who falters or digresses from the righteous path. Instead, it is our responsibility as Christians to lead as many souls back to the fold, and be reconciled with the Lord and with one another.
For reconciliation to work, we must be fully convinced that we have been restored to God’s grace, are forgiven, and have received a new heart, a new spirit, new eyes, and new ears with which to see and hear. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation through Christ. As His followers, our mission is to bring peace and reconciliation wherever we encounter division or strife among people – within our families, our communities, social circles and workplaces (Henri Nouwen). So whatever we do, we should ask ourselves, does it lead to reconciliation among people?
Indeed, God desires that we remain in Him, and when lost, find our way back to His loving arms, “…for there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents,” (Luke 15:10).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to have real joy and concern for others as I patiently strive to lead them back to You. Forgive me for the times when I was self-righteous and/or jealous of others. I want to truly grow in imitation of your Son Jesus, as I pray, ‘For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.’ Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1.When you go to confession, how does it feel to receive God’s mercy thru the utterance of the priest?
2.What measures will you take to pursue a ministry of healing and reconciliation in your relationship with family, community, friends, and others?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
September 11, 2016 (Sun) – Ex 32:11,13,14/Ps 51:3,4,12,13,17,19/1Tm 1:12-17
September 12, 2016 (Mon) – 1Cor 11:17-26/Ps 40:7-10,17/Lk 7:1-10
September 13, 2016 (Tue) – 1Cor 12:1-14,27-31/Ps 100:1-5/Lk 7:11-17
September 14, 2016 (Wed) – Nm 21:4-9/Ps 78:1,2,34,34-38/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17
September 15, 2016 (Thu) – Heb 5:7-9/Ps 31:2-6,15,16,20/Jn 19:25-27
September 16, 2016 (Fri) – 1Cor 15:12-20/Ps 17:1,6-8,15/Lk 8:1-3
September 17, 2016 (Sat) – 1Cor 15:35-37,42-49/Ps 56:10-14/Lk 8:4-15
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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