Let the intelligent man grasp their meaning.
For the ways of the Lord are straight,
and virtuous men walk in them,
but sinners stumble.
From the words of the Song “Hosea”:
Come back to me with all your heart,
don’t let fear keep us apart.
Trees do bend, tho’ straight and tall;
so must we to others’ call. Long have I waited for your coming
home to me and living deeply our new life.
Homecomings are mostly always a joyous occasion. Lent is a time for that joy. My brother, Dale, has a son who had a falling out with Dale and his brother. They are all adults but sometimes people don’t bend. The family is close and loving so what is to stop them?
God wants us to bend and swallow our pride and return home. Just like the parodical and good son we have self-examination to do on ourselves to return to that joyous homecoming with Him.
In our Gospel today and last Sunday (Exodus 20) we are reminded of the Commandments. We are to follow and them as Hosea says: I am like a cypress ever green; all your fruitfulness comes from me. Wow! I am guilt of this, but fruitfulness doesn’t come from me but from God. One of the scribes who most of us assume considered Jesus a heretic was impressed by the words of Jesus and said the following.‘Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’ Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to question him anymore. I always wanted the scriptures to say more but they don’t. God meant us to discover it on our own.
How to we get to the Kingdom of God?
We know from the Our Father “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We know that doing the will of God and doing good are a way of experiencing the Kingdom of God. This is our Home. We can only glimpse at the Kingdom on Earth, but we are not separated from the Kingdom in Heaven. I know my Mom and Dad and Uncles and Aunts who have died and preceded me to Heaven are there. When I repent and come back, I know they are smiling and looking forward to my real Homecoming in Heaven.
I identify with the scribe in this Gospel. My morning prayers are finished with a wish that I can somehow experience or build up the Kingdom of God on this Earth on this day. There are times if I do something that I feel Jesus wants me to do that I feel close to that Kingdom.
Saint Paul writes that the road to salvation is a marathon and a journey. Every day is a new day and a chance to do better .
Sorry about recent website troubles.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace!
