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Saturday, 15 September 2007 |
Prodigality: to be recklessly extravagant; lavish in giving; yielding abundantly; the state of spending or giving lavishly and foolishly.
We used to call today’s Gospel proclamation “the prodigal son”. After all, the younger son did take his inheritance and spend it lavishly and foolishly (and sinfully). But, to spend lavishly and foolishly is only part of the definition of prodigality. After you hear the last part of the proclamation offered by the Deacon at Mass (Luke 15. 11-32), ask yourself who the key to this familiar story is.
Many of us have behaved like the prodigal younger son (self-centered; thinking only of his wants, his pleasures); Many of us have behaved like the jealous and judgmental older brother (angry at “the break” shown to another, bitter in not feeling recognized). But how many of us have behaved like the prodigal father, giving as he does, lavishly and foolishly?
In the full proclamation at today’s liturgy (Luke 15. 1- 32), we hear again the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin and parable of the lost son. In each of the parables, Jesus of Nazareth hopes to awaken in the human heart of his listener (in our hearts) the desire for this discovery... that we have been “found”... like the lost sheep, like the lost coin, like the lost son... that we have been found by such a loving God, one who loves and forgives lavishly, foolishly.
The parish family of St. John Neumann is formed as a Body, and this living and loving community of “the lost” are called to love prodigally, to forgive prodigally, to serve prodigally... in imitation of the Lord that has loved us and is loving us with a love that cannot be fathomed.
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As you will hear from me today, the results of our parish survey has given me a sense of our calling. In the coming weeks and months, I will discuss our need to raise funds so that we might build for our present and our future. How are we to give of ourselves in this effort? How are we to share our time and our talents and our treasure so that we may build a new worship space, a new chapel, a new parish hall, a new set of meeting rooms? How are we to undertake something this big, this complicated? With prodigality: lavishly, foolishly, with gusto! The Lord is with us. The Lord promises to remain with us. And so we will trust in the Lord and seek be an even brighter beacon of Light for this small portion of God’s good earth. AMDG.
Msgr David |
