24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

This weekend we will hear proclaimed the beautiful parable of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke 15:1-32.  As the author of the third gospel and of the Acts of the Apostles, there are a number of outstanding characteristics of the theology of Luke.  These include his emphasis on the compassion of Jesus as articulated especially in the parables of Luke Chapter 15 - the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son; and second, his emphasis on the role of women.

Compassion.  Compassion comes into the English language by way of the Latin root “passio”, which means to suffer, paired with the Latin prefix “com”, meaning together – to suffer together.

That is what we must remember.  Jesus is with us, always.  When we hurt, when we mourn, when we are crying out for healing, Jesus looks upon us with compassion.  We are together, united with the Son of God, and we suffer together.  We are never alone.  As disciples and pilgrims on a journey, and as a faith community, we are called to look with compassion on one another, and those on the peripheries.

When we approach Jesus in the sacrament of reconciliation, He looks upon us with compassion.

Let us pay extra close attention to the parable of the prodigal son this weekend.  Read it in advance to prepare for mass, and meditate upon it after.  Allow the compassion of the Father to shine through.  That my friends is the compassion of Jesus.

May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you at mass this weekend.
Fr. Greg