From the Pastor's Desk | April 14, 2024

Gospel Reflection

Repetition in the spiritual life is an indication that we should probably pay attention.  Sometimes thoughts, feelings, desires, words, intuitions, and other movements of the heart will continue to come up repeatedly.  This is when we need to stop and do four things: 

• Acknowledge - acknowledge whatever keeps coming up
• Relate - relate this and the associated thoughts, feelings, and desires to Lord in prayer
• Receive - have a receptive heart to whatever it is God is placing before us; whatever it is He wants for us
• Respond - respond to God’s will. 

We see this in our readings today.  There are two words that come up twice in today’s readings.  In the first reading from Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter says, “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”  In the Gospel today taken from the twenty fourth chapter of Luke, we hear Jesus say, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations…” 

We should probably pay attention to the word repentance.  It is interesting when we think of the big Catholic feast days and solemnities that, in addition to Christmas and Easter, the third biggest day for Mass attendance is Ash Wednesday.  I think there is a natural desire in our hearts for repentance.  We know innately that we are sinners and that we need salvation.  We don’t always live out this intuition which is why the Church gives us the long time of Lent each year to reflect and thus repent.  

So, what is repentance?  Repentance has three aspects: 1) acknowledgment that we’ve done wrong, 2) sorrow for our own wrongdoing, and 3) penance - a work of satisfaction (something we do to try to atone for our own wrongdoing).  A point of clarification.  We cannot merit our own salvation through our own works.  Rather, we unite our works to Jesus Christ and the merits won for us through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  This is one of the reasons James writes, “Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works (James 2:18). 

We can sum this up, perhaps, with the word cooperation - cooperation with the grace poured out upon us through the blood and merits of Jesus Christ.  In repentance, we both do what Jesus commands and allow Him to be Lord.  

Last week, we celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday, and our Lord is most certainly merciful.  But, as I said in my homily, we cannot presume His mercy because the Lord is also just.  Repentance is the gateway to God’s mercy and the way in which we cooperate with the blood shed for us.  

As we pray today, consider adding the Act of Contrition - the prayer we pray every time we make a good confession.  It is a good prayer to help us repent.  

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.  In his name, my God, have mercy.  Amen.  

Know of my prayers for you all! 
Fr. Ryan