The Prodigal Son

The story of The Prodigal Son is one parable that we all can relate to in so many different ways.  Each one of us can relate to f the characters in the story at various moments in our lives.  We have all had our share of making bad decisions and coming back to our families, friends and our God to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.  The younger son certainly experienced this in a most dramatic way.  Having squandered his money he returned home planning on begging for forgiveness and found himself welcomed home with wide open arms.

We can also identify with other sibling.  Having worked, obeyed and done “everything right” we are faced with accepting one who has not.  This is a difficult reality even in the best of situations.  We are called to be open, to forgive and to show compassion.  Sometimes it is easier to just hold a grudge.

Finally, we can relate to the parent who forgives and welcomes back the repentant child.  This is where we can see the merciful love of God in action.  We all need to remember the importance of offering forgiveness, welcoming back one who has harmed us just as our God is always there to welcome us home with open arms.

Pat Schifini, OSU

St. Patrick's Day

Today is St. Patrick's Day, the patron saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York.  It is said he went about the countryside converting the early Irish and used the shamrock to symbolize the Trinity-3 in 1. Throughout the centuries, the Irish have been known for their strong faith and have suffered very much for that faith.  So often today, St. Patrick's Day is seen as a day for drinking and partying-- definitely not the image presented by Patrick as he walked the hills and fields of early Ireland preaching of Jesus.

50 years ago today, four young women professed their first vows as Ursuline Sisters.  Each of those young women stood on the shoulders of Irish ancestors and gave thanks for the faith handed down through the generations.  Now, 50 years later, we still give thanks for our gift of faith and pray that those who stand on our shoulders will receive that same gift.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all and may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Mindfulness

In today's Gospel, Jesus instructs us to look at our relationships with others and, if there is one relationship that is out of kilter, to heal it before approaching the altar.  I wonder how many of us think about this saying of Jesus before bringing ourselves to the altar.  I can truthfully say that is not my focus when I am in church or in the chapel.  But maybe I can ask the Lord to help me to be more mindful of others and to put my house in order before I go and ask Him to forgive me for my sins.  If I want to be forgiven, I must be willing to do the same for others. 

Have a wonderful weekend and be kind to each other in a world that doesn't always value kindness.

KM Donohue, OSU

The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes are the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-10). Jesus teaches us that if we live according to the Beatitudes, we will live a happy Christian life. The Beatitudes fulfill God’s promises made to Abraham and his descendants and describe the rewards that will be ours as loyal followers of Christ.

Pope Francis has underlined how the Beatitudes are a Christian’s “identity card” that “identify us as followers of Jesus.”  As well as the eight Beatitudes Pope Francis also proposed 6 more to “recognize and respond to new situations with fresh energy.”

Pope Francis has explained that holiness is not so much about “great deeds and extraordinary events” but rather “daily fidelity to the demands of our baptism.” Holiness, he said, “consists in the love of God and the love of our brothers and sisters — something that makes a person deeply happy, as the saints showed.

“That is why we call the saints blessed,” the Pope said. “The Beatitudes are their path, their goal, their native land. The Beatitudes are the way of life that the Lord teaches us, so that we can follow in his footsteps.”  Let us live the Beatitudes in our daily lives.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Follow Me

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.  He said to him, "Follow me."  And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.  Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.  The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"  Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.  I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."  (Luke 5: 27 – 32)


In today’s gospel, Jesus calls Matthew/Levi to follow.  His response seems to be rather quick leaving all behind and following.  During this Lenten season we too are called to leave all and follow Jesus.  We are called to examine our lives and renew our relationship with Jesus.  Jesus came and ate with sinners, the poor and the outcast and we are called to do the same.  We all sin and turn away from God’s love for us but we are always welcomed back.  Jesus called a very unlikely person to be one of his Apostles.  Matthew/Levi responded out of love and we are invited to do the same.  Perhaps this Lent is a wonderful time to do just that – respond out of love and not the sense of duty.  As we journey these days of Lent let us take some time not just to “give something up” – let us take the time to “do something more.”  It can be as simple as a kind word or doing something nice for someone.  We all need to let Jesus guide our lives during this special season.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Choose Life

H​ow deeply can​ we yield to what God wants to do with us, in us, through us​?  Today’s Lenten readings remind us to choose life that we may live and to take up our cross and follow.  The reading from Deuteronomy always causes me to reflect on the notion of life.  We are besieged by so many distractions that we don’t always have the opportunity to spend time on what is truly important our relationship with our God.  During Lent, we are invited to take some time to look at our lives and how we are living them.  We are called to go beyond ourselves and reach out in love and compassion.  As we pick up our daily crosses we are challenged to recall that it is not the physical cross that Jesus carried that we are asked to carry it is the seemingly small inconveniences that are the heaviest.

May this Lenten season be filled with many blessings and good things for each one of us.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Letting Go

Fifty years ago today, March l, my parents were informed that my 20 year old brother, a United States Marine, had been killed in Vietnam.  The world stopped while we waited for his remains to come home, for the wake and funeral to take place, and eventually for life, forever changed, to resume again. This new life called for an immense conversion for us as we adjusted and dealt with the anti-war movement so prevalent in the country.  And it was a time of letting go of the old ways.  Today, as we begin Lent with Ash Wednesday, we are aware of the dying and rising we are asked to embrace.  We resist the letting go, perhaps of things we consider precious, but the letting go will allow us to change and adjust to new ways of living which will eventually lead us to deeper faith and fuller life.

May we embrace the opportunity to grow during this time of Lent that is being offered to us.  May you receive many blessings during these days.

KM Donohue, OSU