GOD OF ALL MERCIES

My Dear Brothers and Sisters:

A 31-year-old Nigerian Muslim woman named Amina Lawal was sentenced to death by stoning eight years ago, because she had been found guilty of adultery. Civil rights groups around the world were outraged at the sentence that Lawal should be buried up to her neck and then have stones hurled at her head until she was dead. Under pressure from these groups, the judge declared that Amina Lawal’s conviction was invalid because she was already pregnant when harsh Islamic Shariah law was implemented in her home province. When she heard the judge’s decision, Lawal told a reporter from CNN: “I am happy. God is great and he has made this happen”.

Almost two millennia ago, scribes and Pharisees brought before Jesus another woman caught in the act of adultery (Jn 8:1-11). They quoted the law and goaded him into offering his opinion on the matter. But rather than be pressured by their tactics, Jesus simply appealed to the consciences of the woman’s accusers. Were they without sin? If the exact letter of the law were to be imposed on them would they fare any better than the sinful woman? Should they not remember the mercies shown them by God and be grateful to be able to show similar mercy to a fellow sinner?

That day in the temple area, Jesus did not give a briefing on the law but a lesson on the manner in which God deals lovingly, gently, patiently and with forgiveness with those who sin. Whether the woman’s accusers took to heart the lesson that was offered them that day, we cannot know. One by one, they drifted off, John tells us, starting with the elders.

As the climax of Lent approaches, both of these women teach us that our encounters with the God of all mercies preclude our taking up stones or pointing accusatory fingers at one another. Rather our gaze should be turned inward so we can recognize, admit and repent of our sins. Then the God of all mercies calls us to drop our stones, look away from ourselves and our sin and recognize God’s gifts of freedom from slavery and sin (Is. 43:16-21, 1st reading) as well as the ultimate gift of knowing Jesus Christ and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:8-14, 2nd reading)

 

Lord Jesus, help us acknowledge our sinfulness instead of pointing a finger at other people and condemning them as sinners.    Amen.

 

LOOKING FOR FAME, FORTUNE? What am I racing after in my life? Fame? Fortune? A life in Jesus? What is the prize I seek at the finish-line? If God is calling you, contact Fr. Hansoo Park 416-968-0997 Email vocations@vocations.ca www.vocationstoronto.ca

THE FORGIVING FATHER

 

Lord Jesus, help me overcome anger, pent-up hostilities, negative feelings and negative attitudes. AMEN.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Imagining ourselves to be on a journey, we should think of God waiting for us at our destination. God sees us “while we are still a long way off.” In case we may not see our God coming toward us, provisions are made for huge billboards to alert us to the divine presence and salvific event. One reads: “There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Lk 15:10). Another invites: “I will heal your defection; I will love you freely - come back to me”.(Hosea 4:5)

Deeply moved at the sight of us coming home in need of forgiveness, our God grabs us before we can speak our sins and embraces us with a love that forgives, affirms and reinstates the relationship that we have broken. This loving forgiveness is illustrated in a touching way in today’s gospel (Lk. 15:1-3, 11-32)in the parable of the prodigal come home.

“A man had two sons”. So the parable begins, and, with that announcement, we are invited to determine which son we identify with most. Will we throw in our lot with the son who knew himself to be a sinner- who humbled himself, admitted his sin and came home to find the open arms of his forgiving father? Or will we stand in sympathy with the older son and allow the love that has been lavished on us to be overshadowed by anger and resentment?

Surely the Pharisees and the Scribes took offence at what they would have perceived as flagrant injustice. The tax collectors and sinners regarded it to be too good to be true. Jesus’ parable of forgiveness wounded the sense of fairness of the professional keepers and interpreters of the law. We can almost hear them murmuring, “Yes, let the prodigal return, but to bread and water, not fatted calf; in sack cloth, not a new robe; wearing ashes , not a new ring; in tears, not in merriment; kneeling, not dancing”. (Fred Craddock, “Luke” 1990) But this is precisely the point of Jesus’ parable. God’s grace and forgiveness are lavish, not limited, and these are offered to repentant sinners. We for our part, must follow the lead of the prodigal and “come to our senses”(v.17) and recognize our sinfulness. Then we will discover that our God is already running out to meet us to reinstate us as beloved sons and daughters.

 

GOD WELCOMES US… Like the forgiving father of Luke's Gospel, God welcomes us home in spite of our sinfulness, and calls us to a life of holiness. Where are you at home? Are you being called to a life as an ordained or a consecrated person? If God is calling you, contact Fr. Hansoo Park 416-968-0997 Email vocations@vocations.ca www.vocationstoronto.ca

PASSAGES AND PASSOVERS

 

Lord Jesus, who hears our cries, knows our struggles, strengthen us along our way. AMEN.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On each of Lent’s Third Sundays, the selected scripture readings remind us that ours is a spirituality of un-rootedness. As we see in today’s first reading from Exodus(3:1-8, 13-15), ours has always been a people on the move, not just from one geographical place to another, but also from one state of growth to another.

In her book “Passages”, author Gail Sheehy calls these developmental stages “passages”, which all human beings experience as they move toward maturity. Among life’s major passages, Sheehy identifies (1) “pulling up roots”- leaving home and defining oneself apart form one’s parents; (2) “the trying twenties”- one’s first tentative stand as an adult when all things seem possible; (3) “the catch thirties” - in which life commitments are made, broken or renewed, (4) “the midlife crisis of the forties”- a dangerous part of the journey when maturing adults confront the loss of youth, the fading purposes of old roles, career changes, disruptions in sexual equilibrium and spiritual dilemmas; it can also be a time of great opportunity for self-discovery and renewal. In addition to these passages, there are so many others, as when we find friendship and pass from loneliness to companionship, or when we pass over from sickness to well-being, or when sorrow for sin moves us to repentance and allows us to pass over from guilt to forgiveness. Through all these passages and passovers, we learn to know ourselves and, even more importantly, we come to know God.

It could be said that passover is the name of our spirituality, a spirituality that began to grow when God said to Abraham, “Go!” and because he had faith in God, he did. Moses had first become aware of the presence of God in the phenomenon of the bush, burning but not consumed. By the strength of God’s presence, Moses led his people out of Egypt. Their passover from slavery to freedom became the pivotal event of Israel's history. But even that passover was marred by human frailty.

Paul, in today’s 2nd reading (1Cor. 10:1-6,10-12) warns his readers to learn from the experience of the Israelites so as not to repeat their mistakes. When the journey of life becomes burdensome, we have to remember Moses’ God, a God who hears our cries, knows our struggles and is ever present to strengthen us along our way.

 

PROCLAIM HIS NAME… The Lord is kind and merciful and calls us to proclaim His Name. Consider service in the priesthood or consecrated life. If God is calling you, contact Fr. Hansoo Park 416-968-0997 email vocations@vocations.ca www.vocationstoronto.ca

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, C.M.I.

 

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It is part of human being’s dream to have “a place to call home”. This Sunday’s readings illumine and illustrate this aspect. In Genesis (15:5-12, 17-18) we see how the promise of homeland changed Abraham’s future and outlook on life. In the transfiguration scene (Lk. 9:28b-36), we see Peter offering to pitch 3 tents to remain in that blessedness for ever. This natural instinct of having a home and homeland should guide us to the fact that we are “citizens of heaven”. (2nd reading Phil. 3:17-4:1)

This inborn tendency of having the blessedness of that place we call home should help us today to focus a caring eye and offer a helping hand to those who do not enjoy the security either of a home or a homeland. The recent natural calamities in Haiti and the man-made calamities in Sri Lanka and other countries are to rouse our feelings in this respect. In its most recent survey, World Refugee Survey 2009, the U.S. Committee for Refugees in Washington D.C. certified that in the year 2008, more than 13.6 million people were forced to flee their native lands due to war and persecution. More than 21 million others have been internally displaced i.e., they have been forced from their homes and made to walk their countries’ roads in search of a secure resting place. In addition to these refugees and otherwise displaced persons millions of others throughout the world are homeless. Of these millions, at least 15% are children and 19% of the urban homeless population are veterans.

Homelessness is, in effect, equivalent to having no identity. Without an address, the homeless person usually cannot get a job, receive social security or financial aid. HomeAid, an organization begun to assist the homeless, cites a variety of causes of homelessness, e.g. sudden job loss, catastrophic illness, spousal desertion, domestic violence, crisis pregnancies or a combination of these.

In light of these statistics, let us be attentive to Jesus who speaks to us through the needs of others. During these weeks of Lent, let our thoughts and actions be centered on the homeless, the displaced, refugees and all other companions on life’s journey who are seeking a place to call home.

Lord Jesus,  let me be attentive to You when You speak through the needs of others.  Amen.

HOLY SPIRIT LEAD ME… Peter, John and James had a mountaintop-experience with Jesus by witnessing His transfiguration. We too can have a mountaintop-experience when we open our minds and hearts to following God's Will for our life. If God is calling you, contact Fr. Hansoo Park 416-968-0997 Email vocations@vocations.ca or visit www.vocationstoronto.ca

Fasting, Feasting, Offering

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, C.M.I.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Fasting from food and feasting on the presence of God are the two important spiritual exercises during Lent. In between comes offering with almsgiving. This six-week long intense preparation for Jesus’ saving death and resurrection can be considered to be a “time-out” in every calendar year.

Sports enthusiasts know that a time-out can give athletes a chance: to regroup, if the game plan is not meeting with the success they had hoped for; to revise existing strategies, to affirm the good efforts of the team; to re-centre the attention of the team on the desired goal; to add to the psychological burden of their opponents by slowing the action of the game and interrupting their momentum.

As regards the time-out we call Lent, these six weeks similarly provide believers in Jesus with an opportunity for engaging in a variety of exercises, from rethinking their behaviour to regrouping their energies, from revising their spiritual strategies to affirming their good efforts, from slowing the pace of their daily lives to re-centering their focus on Christ and the gospel. To put it another way, the annual Lenten time-out offers each of us a special opportunity for fasting and for feasting. Both of these spiritual exercises are featured in the scripture selections of this Sunday.

In today’s first and second readings, we are invited to feast on the word of God describing the gift of salvation. Paul reminds us that we are to appropriate God’s saving gifts by faith.., “believe in your heart and you will be saved…faith in the heart leads to justification” (Rom. 10:8-13). For his part, the author of Deuteronomy reminds us that our feasting is to be firmly founded in the remembering and retelling of our saving story. (Deut. 26:4-10).

Following the example offered by Jesus (Lk 4:1-13) fasting is to be embraced as a means to spiritual growth. Along with praying, offering and almsgiving, fasting is to be an integral aspect of every believer’s formation.

Lord Jesus, help me know the emptiness of hunger so as to be filled with your good news.Amen.

HOLY SPIRIT LEAD ME… Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days of prayer and fasting. Are you open to being led by the Holy Spirit into the life-commitment God has prepared for you? If God is calling you, contact Fr. Hansoo Park 416-968-0997 Email vocations@vocations.ca or visit www.vocationstoronto.ca

Trust In God

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, help us to have perfect trust in your wisdom and providence. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“In God We Trust; all others must pay cash!” this sign, hanging over the cash register in a store, always brings a smile to the passers-by. Jeremiah, in today’s 1st Reading (Jer. 17:5-8) makes a similar point, namely, there is a blessedness that comes to those who trust in God; however, those who put their trust in anyone or anything other than God will find that blessedness eludes them. This theme of trust is presented in today’s gospel (Lk. 6:17, 20-26) in a more challenging form with its series of woes on the rich, the full (or satisfied), the joyful and the well-liked.

Jesus promised that the poor would possess the kingdom, the hungry would be filled, the weeping would laugh and the hated, insulted and ostracized would have a heavenly reward. By the same token, the rich, full, laughing and those who are well thought of will know: need, hunger, grief and rejection. No doubt, Jesus’ contemporaries were shocked at His contrasting pronouncements of blessings and woes. According to popular belief, those who enjoyed an abundance of this world’s goods were thought to be blessed by God, whereas those who suffered from the lack of material possessions were considered cursed; their condition was regarded as just punishment for sin. Although our knowledge as to the reasons for the economic circumstances of the poor and the wealthy has altered and developed, nevertheless Jesus’ radical statements have not become any easier to accept or understand. They challenge our trust in the truth of the good news.

We, for our part, who long to be among the blessed, are to cultivate a trust in the mercy of God, who will answer our hunger with satisfaction, our sorrowing with joy, our rejection by the world with a loving welcome and our poverty with a place.

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS? Call Fr. Jose Happy are those who know they need God. Happy too those who live faithfully the vocation of the life-commitment God calls them to, be it married, single, religious or priesthood. If God is calling you, contact Fr. Hansoo Park 416-968-0997 email vocations@vocations.ca www.vocationstoronto.ca

The words of the psalmist echo the theme of all of today’s readings. “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.” As good stewards, firmly grounded in that hope, may we bear fruit in due season — assisting the poor, feeding the hungry, and consoling the sorrowful whenever we have the chance.

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Call To Service

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, make use respond to the call of your children who are in need Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
God’s call comes to us in different ways. Few among us have probably experienced a summons to ministry as dramatic as that of Isaiah (1st Reading Is 6:1-2,3-8), or as decisive as that of Peter, James and John (Lk 5:1-11). Few of us can boast of seeing seraphim or hearing distinctive voices. Few of us were offered the sign of a great catch of fish as a portent of our future success. Recall Paul’s encounter on the road to Damascus. The flash of light, the commanding voice, his ensuing blindness and cure mark Paul’s call as extraordinary. Also extraordinary was the call of Augustine (354-430), Francis of Assisi (1182-1266), Joan of Arc (1412-1431) and the like.

Although the voices and visions that moved these remarkable men and women to do remarkable things for Christ and the church are indeed inspiring, most of us cannot claim a similar experience. Nevertheless and despite the lack of drama, our calls to service are nonetheless real and compelling. For many of us, the call to ministry comes in a rather conventional manner, as through the voice and direction of a pastor, spiritual guide or friend. Some among us are moved to service through the example of others.

Today’s liturgy places before us a challenge. Whether the call is conventional or unconventional, can we see it as a call from God? For example, take the pathetic situation of the victims of AIDS in Africa. Can we take the inner urge to reach out to them as a call from God? Can we recognize the face of hunger and offer bread? Can we relieve the thirsty with water, the needy with a share of our substance, the lonely with a few hours of our time and attention, the sorrowful with an offer of our sympathy and a sharing in our joy, the sick with the support of our care, and the dying with the comfort of our presence and caring?

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS? Call Fr. Jose or visit http://www.vocationstoronto.ca/ Do not be afraid. If the Lord is calling you to the ordained or consecrated life, do not be afraid. Jesus calls and will give you the grace to respond wholeheartedly. If God is calling you, contact Fr. Jose – or - Fr. Hansoo Park 416-968-0997 email vocations@vocations.ca www.vocationstoronto.ca

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