Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

Gospel

Luke 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,

but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 

So Jesus addressed this parable to them.

“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them

would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert

and go after the lost one until he finds it?

And when he does find it,

he sets it on his shoulders with great joy

and, upon his arrival home,

he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,

‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 

I tell you, in just the same way

there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents

than over ninety-nine righteous people

who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one

would not light a lamp and sweep the house,

searching carefully until she finds it?

And when she does find it,

she calls together her friends and neighbors

and says to them,

‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 

In just the same way, I tell you,

there will be rejoicing among the angels of God

over one sinner who repents.”

Reflection

The stark contrast between the Pharisees self-righteousness and their refusal to look at their weaknesses, and these sinners that are so aware that they are not yet what they should be, and they accept their brokenness, is just so life-giving. And what Jesus sees so clearly in them is, this is what I've come into the world to do, to awaken in people an awareness that the God who created them is a God primarily of forgiveness, understanding, compassion.

The kingdom is founded on forgiveness. And we see in this passage those that are benefiting from it. It's simply those who know they need forgiveness. That's the heart of the message of Jesus.

Closing Prayer

Father, there is no way that we can truly forgive others unless we first forgiven ourselves. This is your gift to us. The gift of the kingdom that we know and understand, the value and the dignity and the importance of forgiveness. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,

and he turned and addressed them,

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, 

wife and children, brothers and sisters,

and even his own life,

he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower

does not first sit down and calculate the cost

to see if there is enough for its completion? 

Otherwise, after laying the foundation

and finding himself unable to finish the work

the onlookers should laugh at him and say,

‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down

and decide whether with ten thousand troops

he can successfully oppose another king

advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 

But if not, while he is still far away,

he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 

In the same way,

everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions

cannot be my disciple.”

Reflection

Jesus, speaking here to the crowds. And he's wanting everyone to realize that this thing that he has come to establish is so radically new, so different, that it will separate us from those who we are close to because they won't understand It's going to cost a great deal. In fact, it's going to cost everything that we have, has to be secondary to this new kingdom of God that he is inviting us into.

And when it is that important to us, then it can happen. Because it's not something that we create. It's not something we do. It's something we surrender to.

Closing Prayer

Father, free us from working for things that only you can create within us. Give us a clarity and a disposition of surrender, acceptance, allowing you to change us, to renew us, and to bring us into the light. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 14:15-24

One of those at table with Jesus said to him,

“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”

He replied to him,

“A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.

When the time for the dinner came,

he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,

‘Come, everything is now ready.’

But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.

The first said to him,

‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;

I ask you, consider me excused.’

And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen

and am on my way to evaluate them;

I ask you, consider me excused.’

And another said, ‘I have just married a woman,

and therefore I cannot come.’

The servant went and reported this to his master.

Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town

and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out

and still there is room.’

The master then ordered the servant,

‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows

and make people come in that my home may be filled.

For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

Reflection

When one of the guests at table says to Jesus that people are blessed to be invited to this kingdom of God, this great banquet, and then he responds with the reality that so many of them have been invited, but they refuse to come. It's a perfect indication of the way in which this is not a priority for these people.

The Kingdom of God does not seem to be something that they're really interested in. They're too busy, too wrapped up in other things. But the interesting thing to me is the anger and the rage of the one who invites them. It's not just that he wants them to be there, he wants his house to be full. He wants to do this work desperately.

And yet people are simply saying, I'm sorry, I'm too busy.

Closing Prayer

Father, keep us aware of the invitation to this banquet. A place where people are fed, nourished, encouraged, loved, forgiven. Help us to always be ready to participate in this great banquet that feeds so many. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 14:12-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.

He said to the host who invited him,

"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,

do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters

or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,

in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.

Rather, when you hold a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;

blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Reflection

There's a comparison here between something that we all know and have experienced, people taking care of each other, doing nice things for each other, and always receiving nice things back. And we feel that that's a really good thing, and it is not necessarily a bad thing, but what about those people who are the outcasts, those that we don't really naturally drawn to?

What's our responsibility there? Should we be offering things to them? The Kingdom of God is made up of not just a a meal image, but a banquet image. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is fed. Everyone is given something that of value without the person who gives doing it only because of what they get, but doing it because it's the right thing to do.

Closing Prayer

Father, we all have people in our lives that are easy to be with. And there are those in our life that are difficult. And we have to be very generous with those people, especially if we're going to be living out the kingdom of God. To care not just for those who care for us, but to care for those who need care. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

John 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds:

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Reflection

This passage flies in the face of all the ways in which we might believe or think that salvation is something that we accomplish, that we earn by doing something. God has chosen to save everyone who turns to him and believes in him. It's not something that we need to worry about. Whether or not we are good enough. It's not about performance.

It's about a presence that is connected to God, believing in everything he teaches. But most especially that we will be with him one day, forever in heaven.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly father, so often I hear people worried about whether or not they're good enough to make it to heaven, whether they've earned your love or earned your respect. But the real question is not whether or not we are good enough to receive this place of greatness with God, but the question is whether or not God can do what he promises, that he can save us. No matter how far we've drifted from him, he is the source of salvation. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,

and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven."

Reflection

The interesting thing about this passage is that we see Jesus going up the mountain, and rather than waiting for him to come back, the disciples go to him and he gives them an insight, an awareness of the fullness of what it's like to be a follower of his. The complexity, the paradoxes.

And then he makes it clear. Just realize. Accept all of this and then rejoice. If you live this way, you are in the kingdom, and you will draw others to the kingdom.

Closing Prayer

Father, you've promised the kingdom of God to us. And what you keep saying over and over again, it's not something that we ourselves create, it's not something that we can achieve on our own. But it's constantly reminding us to surrender to everything that is happening to us. So we continue to never lose hope, always to be fervent in belief that the kingdom is coming. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,

“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”

He replied, “Go and tell that fox,

‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,

and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.

Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,

for it is impossible that a prophet should die

outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,

how many times I yearned to gather your children together

as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,

but you were unwilling!

Behold, your house will be abandoned.

But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Reflection

The Pharisees come to warn Jesus that the work he is engaged in might be destroyed by Herod. But Jesus makes clear that his work is being accomplished. The purpose he came for will be accomplished. But then he reminds the Pharisees of their greatest weakness, their greatest sin. How many times they had rejected the work of God, trying to open their hearts to his love and his care.

This is the greatest sin of the Pharisees, because it kept them always from the kingdom of God.

Closing Prayer

Father, always, it's clear that your greatest gift to us is something that we have to not work for, but have to receive generously. Allow the work that he has done for us to take root in us, that we can build his kingdom. Keep us free from the pride. Keep us free from this sin of the Pharisees, who simply would not allow God to be God. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages,

teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him,

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

He answered them,

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter

but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,

then will you stand outside knocking and saying,

'Lord, open the door for us.'

He will say to you in reply,

'I do not know where you are from.'

And you will say,

'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'

Then he will say to you,

'I do not know where you are from.

Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth

when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God

and you yourselves cast out.

And people will come from the east and the west

and from the north and the south

and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.

For behold, some are last who will be first,

and some are first who will be last."

Reflection

The audience that Jesus spoke to had a very clear idea as to how they would be entering the Kingdom of God. They would follow all the rigid rules and regulations of the temple, do everything that was required, and that would gain them salvation. And what Jesus is saying, no, no, that's not the way it is, you've missed the point.

The point is that I want you to allow me to enter into you, and we will together work for the kingdom of God. And your participation in that work is your salvation. So the idea that when they show up and God doesn't know who they are is a perfect example of the fact that the way in which we are saved is not by rules and regulations, but by an intimate relationship with the divine.

Closing Prayer

Father, you remind us over and over again that what we are here for is not to grow and change out of our own strength and power, but to surrender to the beauty of your intimacy with each of us. We're not here to earn salvation. We're here to joyfully receive it. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?

To what can I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.

When it was fully grown, it became a large bush

and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

It is like yeast that a woman took

and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour

until the whole batch of dough was leavened.

Reflection

Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God. But what is it like? And it's clear in this passage that what Jesus said, it's very organic. It's very natural. It begins small and continues to grow and enlarge and become more real. That's the challenge, each of us to take our part seriously, in how we evolve more toward this kingdom of God.

Each of us have our part. Each of our gifts moves the kingdom closer and closer to fulfillment.

Closing Prayer

Father, it's easy for us to not to feel that we're that important, or that we don't matter that much, but we do. Every one of us, as we continue to grow toward the kingdom, are lifting each other up. And the kingdom becomes more and more a reality. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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