The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, March 21, 2004
Fourth Sunday of Lent
(Laetare Sunday)

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 34:2-7
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Luke 15:1-3,11-32

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today’s Gospel we see something that seems so characteristic of our human nature, that is, we don’t often come to our senses until, and unless, we experience hardship. When all is going well (or so we think) we rely on our own ingenuity and think that we really are in control of life’s events and outcomes. We fail to recognize just how powerless and dependent we are.

Powerlessness and dependence are not happy contemporary terms and denote a state of being that for most couldn’t be more undesirable, It is however important to understand that when it comes to our relationship with God, recognizing our powerlessness and dependence is essential - it’s called humility.

Knowing who we are before the face of God and who God is, creates a relationship of authenticity. There are no delusions, no opportunities for game-playing.

Where in contemporary relationships we may be powerless and dependent in a relationship; with the Divine we hold a “trump card” -- that is, the heart of the Almighty, like the Father in the story of the Prodigal Son, is moved with compassion and mercy for the repentent.

Let us then not look on our hardships and failings as altogether onerous, but perhaps an opportunity to acknowledge our dependence and sorrow for wounding the heart of so loving a God and Father.


- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:55 AM