A message of reconciliation

By virtue of our “baptism in faith, we partake in the divine nature of God through Jesus Christ and are truly sanctified (made holy). If we let go of this perfection, we offend God and thus are in need of his great mercy, as we petition ‘And forgive us our debts’ ” (Mt. 6:12) (Flannery, A. (1998). Vatican Council II. New York: Costello.). 

The 24th and 25th Sundays in Ordinary Time invite the faithful to recognize failings, hear the message of mercy and return to God through Jesus Christ with humility, prayer, hope and gratitude. We also celebrate on the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time those who serve as catechists during the annual Catechetical Sunday celebration, mentioned at the end of this article.

Conformed to Christ (1 Tim 1:12-17)

St. Paul describes in the First Letter to Timothy gratitude of the strength given by Jesus Christ, who deems St. Paul trustworthy to proclaim the news of salvation since his conversion. Recalling his old ways because of unbelief (1 Tim 1:12-15), St. Paul testifies that Christ came to save sinners such as he, who now, conformed to Christ, is filled with grace, faith and love. Further, St. Paul continues the letter emphasizing how the commitment in prayer strengthens devotion and good conduct to uphold dignity. He challenges us to reach out with holy hands and avoid anger and resentment. 

Grateful return (Lk 15:1-32)

The ultimate parable of a grateful return is the prodigal son. St. Luke reveals the parable of the lost sheep, as the master leaves the 99 to go after the lost one and the parable of the lost coin, where the woman goes to exhaustive length to find this treasure. 

Then we come to the parable of the prodigal son and his brother. This popular parable is worthy of extensive meditation meriting space beyond this column. But for now, let us simply focus on the powerful movements within the text. “He took his journey into a far country.” “He squandered.” “He began to be in want.”  “He came to himself.” “He arose and came to his father.” “His father saw him, had compassion and ran and embraced and kissed him.” “I have sinned.” “For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” “Make merry.”

In the decisive moment, the movement of love of self rather than love of God will appear good at first with all the excessiveness of “freedom.” Yet, reliance on oneself without God will result in “famine, starvation and nearness to death.” Life comes with an awakening to the reality that only the grace of God will sustain us.  In the parable, the father’s unparalleled mercy illuminates the omnipotent mercy of God, our father.

Without grace, we are shoeless, tattered and torn by the torrents of life. It is being in a storm without shelter. Amid such a storm, reality sets in. “This is not where I belong.” We can choose to go home to our father or remain lost. Coming home we encounter Christ, the light of mercy, in the sacrament of reconciliation and receive the joyful embrace of God, the endless grace of his mercy poured upon our contrite heart and penitential plea as we say, “Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son/daughter.” In this decisive moment, the movement is love of God, the father, who forgives our trespasses, and runs to us as we run towards him. He clothes us in his grace and feeds us with his body, the Eucharist, which transforms our starvation into salvation. 

Celebrating catechists: Sept. 18, 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has given the annual Catechetical Sunday celebration a eucharistic-centered theme based on the passage, “This is my body given for you” (Lk 22:19). The sacraments of initiation are foundational in our lives: by baptism we are born anew; by confirmation we are strengthened; by Eucharist we are nourished. The sacraments fully communicate Jesus Christ, as we are immersed in his life, death and resurrection. Catechesis is the path that opens the heart and the mind to the truth of such joy!

Catechesis is essential in the life of the church, as it is at the service of evangelization. The vocation of a catechist begins with the movement of Holy Spirit within, then go

 

ing forth to be a “witness of faith, keeper of the memory of God, a teacher, as they introduce to others the mystery of God, transmitter of the content of faith, one who opens the doors of truth, communicates the knowledge of Christ and the dimensions of Christian living, accompanies and educates those entrusted in their care, to listen to the joys and sorrows and situate them in relation to the Gospel of Jesus and the mercy of God” (Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC, 2020, pp. 73–74.).

In reality, all are called to be a catechist; to actively hand on the faith each day, beginning in the home where the “domestic church” responds to the call to know, love and serve God in this world so that we may be happy with him in eternal life.  During this celebration let us remember those who handed on the faith to us … parents, grandparents, godparents, family and friends, religion teachers in church parishes, youth ministers, parish volunteers, and Catholic School teachers, seminarians, priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons, bishops, popes, etc. We offer our prayers of gratitude for them and for those who tirelessly serve the mission of catechesis. May the joy of life in Christ continue to echo for generations to come.

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.