Word to the Wise
Saturday, March 3, 2018 - 2nd Week of Lent - Sat
[Mic 7:14-15, 18-20 and Luke 15:1-3, 11-32]SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2018. SATURDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT [Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 and Luke 15:1-3, 11-32] 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' [Luke] As I write this, I have just arrived at the third of three parishes in southern Florida where I am preaching parish missions. The pastor has told me that I will be speaking to a mostly elderly population of retirees and "snow birds." This matches previous experiences preaching in Winter [Lent] in Florida, South Texas and Arizona. The gospel parable today of "the Prodigal Son" speaks to their lives in an important way. On the second night of a parish mission, I focus on forgiveness and reconciliation. The examination of conscience that I use goes through the various relationships we may have and prays for the ability to forgive and ask for forgiveness. With an elderly population, there is a lot of history and a lot of burdens that they are carrying. One of the prayers speaks to forgiving one's children. I hear confessions that mention disappointment in children or grandchildren , especially that they no longer go to church. A second prayer mentions forgiveness of parents. Some of the elderly are still caring for their very elderly parents, which they had not anticipated doing in their retirement! A third prayer mentions forgiveness of spouses and a wish for the grace of patience! The parable of the prodigal son speaks to forgiveness of children and forgiveness of parents. The father forgives his wayward son. The older brother is challenged to forgive his father for a "perceived" lack of consideration. One morning after the reconciliation service, an elderly gentleman came up to me and thanked me because I had enabled him to forgive, after many years, his mother! In the parable of the prodigal son, the father has reason to be disappointed in both sons, but he forgives both and invites both to celebrate that forgiveness. I hope the folks who come to this parish mission will join that kind of celebration. AMEN
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