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The word holiness can have a discouraging effect on people. Some immediately dismiss it, perhaps a bit sadly, since they believe that whatever it is, holiness is way beyond their reach.
The Peace Prayer of St. Francis is a deep well of spiritual wisdom. We are wise to visit this well often.
READ
MT 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
The first son who thought better of his initial refusal and eventually went to work truly carried out his father’s will. Those who sin can change.
If we tried to remove all the obstacles to the word in our present lives we would almost certainly find that the soil we offer the Lord is much richer.
In Jesus’ time women traveling with an itinerant rabbi was downright scandalous. Yet these women stayed with Jesus when he was dying on the cross.
There is a correlation between forgiveness of sin and loving Jesus. Maybe this narrative is an invitation for us to ask ourselves how we respond to Jesus’ forgiveness of our sins.
Life often isn’t fair, and people frequently blame God for that. But in terms of Jesus’ story from today’s Gospel, God’s fairness is different from ours.
Although that choice can be difficult, to follow Jesus completely will bring true joy. As children of God we are promised eternal life.
This fall marks six years since my family and I sold our 27-acre organic farm and the house we had designed and built ourselves—the place my wife and I thought we’d call home our entire lives.
