1. -- Dennis Keller OP - 4^th & 5^th Sundays of Lent
2. -- Fr. John Boll OP - 4th Sunday of Lent
3. -- Lanie LeBlanc OP - 4th Sunday of Lent
4. --
5. --(Your reflection can be here!)

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Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 30, 2025

Joshua 5:9 & 10-12; Responsorial Psalm 34;
2nd Corinthians 5:17-21; Gospel Acclamation
Luke15:13; Luke 15:1-3 & 11-32

During these Sundays of Lent, we have been pointing out the continuing message, the story of Jesus working toward the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven. Last Sunday taught us teaching about sin in the message of the Galileans slaughtered in the temple while making sacrifice to God. It was about eighteen construction workers killed when an aqueduct tower collapsed on them. Did they die because they were sinners and deserving of death? With those two references of tragedy Jesus told the story of a sterile fig tree. For three years that tree had not borne fruit. The master wished it cut down. The caretaker of fig trees asked for one more chance for that tree. The owner granted it. The message is that sin gets in the way of the Kingdom coming to fullness and completion. However, repentance is not a once and done encouragement. The caretaker of spirits continues to work to lead us individually to repentance into the ways of our Creator.

This Sunday Jesus is accused of consorting with publicans, tax collectors. The Scribes and Pharisees sought to isolate those public sinners as infectious. In effect sinners were outside the practice of faith of the Jews. Yet Jesus spoke with them, ate meals with them, stayed with them. How to let those Pharisees and Scribes their focus was on the wrong track. This is not an effort of Jesus to reject their complaints, but to point out they did not understand God’s loving kindness and hope for all, including sinners. There is certainly hope for us when we come to realize our sin. It is impossible for anyone to repent until they understand how they are missing the mark of God’s plan for us and rejecting calls by God to understand the need for change.

The Prodigal Son, the Compliant Son, and the forgiving, loving Dad is a parable widely known and appreciated. It provides us with the thought that we will always be welcomed back no matter our turning away from God’s way of flourishing. The younger son of a wealthy landowner wanted his inheritance now so he could live independently, away from what he imagined was a stifling family relationship. By custom he would inherit one third of the father’s estate. The first-born son could expect to inherit two thirds of the estate. The story in the parable is well known. The younger son used up his inheritance in wild parties and extravagant living. His older brother added the charge that he used it up with prostitutes. The kid had to find work. In the force of a famine all he could find to support himself was taking care of a herd of pigs. For a Jew to take on that abhorrent job was a horror of horrors. In this son’s desperation he wanted to eat the pods of the Carob Tree which were fed for the swine.

The father of this parable is cast in the role of the creator. He looks like a push-over. When he sees the prodigal coming down the road, he runs to him and embraces him, welcoming him home. What a surprise for this son! He expected to be rejected and be the victim of a lot of yelling and “I told you so’s.” But none of that. A party, a bath, new clothing, former friends called in to celebrate. What an indulgent father. Is Jesus telling us this is how our heavenly Dad behaves?

Then there is the elder brother. He has borne the burden of maintaining the land and its crops. How surprised he was to hear the joyful celebration. He finds out from another servant the prodigal has come home. What kind of justice is this? The elder has sweat on the land making it productive and fruitful for his father. He refused to join in the celebration. It is not a stretch to apply his attitude to ourselves. The father comes out to him – the younger came to the father. The elder has no joy in his brother’s return. He enters the dome of self-pity, not finding join in a brother’s return. Yet he enjoyed the father’s company all the time his brother was absent. He ate well, was clothed, and had the run of the place.

The question hangs out there. What became of this family? Did the elder brother repent of his anger? Did the father convince the elder of his love and compassion? Did the younger son continue in his repentance? Jesus does not answer these questions. So, it is our responsibility to answer them as we place ourselves in the shoes of the younger son, the elder son, and the father. What do we say to ourselves?

Dennis Keller Dennis@PreacherExchange.com

Fifth Sunday of Lent

April 6, 2025

Isaiah 43:16-21; Responsorial Psalm 126; Philippians 3:8-14;
Gospel Acclamation Joel2:12-13; John 8:1-11

This is the third Sunday the Liturgy of the Word focuses on sin. Recall that two Sundays ago we got into corporate, systemic sin that affects even the innocent. The deaths included the Galileans who protested Pilate’s robbing the Temple Treasury. The second incident was the collapse of an aqueduct tower near to the pool of Siloam. This past Sunday we took a look at how the “righteous” could become all wired up about sinners being forgiven. It is that “hey, what about me. I am really good all the time and I do not benefit!” And this Sunday we go to the gospel of John – we are actually in Cycle C which is Luke’s gospel. This gospel fits the continuing narrative about sin. And sin forgiven is the hope of the New Kingdom of God (Heaven).

The first reading points to a change in religious practice and faith. Isaiah foresees in God’s magnanimity a new hope for humanity. “Remember not the events of the past, the thoughts of long ago consider not: see, I am doing something new. Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah goes on in his prophecy by upsetting normal experience. The jackals and ostriches and wild beasts all honor God. In the desert there are flowing springs of water. All this so all nations recognize God’s presence and praise him.

That reading sets us up to think about what is new. And the gospel from John does not disappoint us. As in last week’s gospel, the story remains open ended. Who knows what happened to the prodigal kid, or the temper tantrum older brother, or the benevolent dad. That is open-ended so we can place ourselves in their shoes and bring a resolution we can apply to our living. So, this week as well.

The Pharisees and the Scribes – both sticklers for the law applied to others – bring a woman caught just then in an adulterous tryst. Immediately there is a problem. Likely the woman was snatched from the bed partially clothed. She is exposed to the crowd, shamed by her disheveled appearance. Actually, she is placed in the middle of the crowd so everyone can observe her. Her embarrassment is off the charts. But even more troubling is the absence of her lover. Where is he? If she was caught in adultery, where is the guy who was integral to that adultery? The Pharisees and the Scribes – read Scribes as lawyers – point out the law of Moses stated in Deuteronomy. But what is clear about their condemnation is they are using their authority to condemn, criticize, and censor everybody they thought sinned. It was how they practiced their authority. The law (Deuteronomy 22:20) clearly states both the woman and the man must be stoned. If the woman protested to the tryst, was nonconsensual and vocal about her NO,” only the man was to be stoned.

The law would apply if the woman were in the betrothal stage of marriage. Where is this man married or betrothed to this woman? The absolute prejudice against the woman ignores the role of men. Jesus bends down, writing the dust. What does he write? The Greek word chosen by John means more than writing. It means writing a record against someone. If this is John’s intent, a logical conclusion is that Jesus is writing names and their sins. The Pharisees and Scribes, it would be they had made this woman, this person a thing to be used. What is so different from the man who is unaccounted for using this woman for his plaything? And the crowd observing this half naked woman, what were their eyes beholding? This woman, this person, is merely a thing, a juicy spectacle to them as well. Jesus took their attention from the woman by his scribbling in the dust to each person; the Pharisees, the Scribes, and the surrounding crowd as well. Jesus straightens up and addresses them. His quote comes from Deuteronomy: the first to throw the stone must be both or all three of necessary witnesses to the adultery. It takes more than a single witness to claim the death penalty. Jesus zeroes in on the hypocrisy of the lawyers and the leering crowd. The one without sin may cast the first stone. One by one, the eldest first, they begin to slip away. In their absence Jesus asks her who condemns her. There is no one left except Jesus. And Jesus says with the authority the Pharisees and Scribes had misapplied that she is forgiven. He instructs her to change her life. Here is something new. Someone does wrong. The first duty of authority is to determine the temptation that caused the sin. Does the temptation mitigate the gravity of the sin? Did the man in the adultery seduce this woman, offer something so attractive or threatening so as to deceive her? The second responsibility of authority is to work a plan to reclaim this sinner. Vengeance, corporal punishment, even death is not an effort to reclaim. Failure in this is a failure to heal. It is Pro-Life to seek to heal the broken, to respect all life, to respect the dignity and worth of every person. There is never merit in treating or thinking of a man, woman, or child as something to be used. The dignity and worth of every person come from God and is not to be tampered with by authority or sinner for whatever motivation they may have.

Dennis Keller Dennis@PreacherExchange.com

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Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C 2025-03-30

JOSHUA 5:9A,10-12; PS 34; 2 COR 5:17-21;
LUKE 15:1-3,11-32

by Fr. John Boll OP

Has anyone ever told you
to not hang out with the wrong crowd?
I am sure your parents have.
(... Some of us may secretly think
we might be the “wrong crowd”)

Today’s parable of the prodigal son
begins with an accusation against Jesus,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

The People of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
were repeatedly told not to hang out
with those who worship idols and with sinners.

Maybe Jesus, IS hanging out with the wrong crowd...

There were Pharisees and Scribes who were disciples of Jesus.
I think they were worried about him.
The Gospel tell us that
“Tax collectors and sinners
were all drawing near to listen to Jesus.”
So they complained...

So Jesus says to them,
I have someone I want you to meet:
A Man, who had two sons...

The younger Son:
“The younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’”
And DO read into it, “as if you are already dead!”

Inexplicably, without hesitation,
the father gives him what he asks for.
And so the younger son gathers it all and takes off.

Then there is the older son who had been out in the field working and, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
And when he found out his brother had returned
and their father was throwing a banquet, he became angry, and refused to enter the house.

Then there is the Father....
The Father who astoundingly
gave his younger son the inheritance!

The father Who takes care of his workers
so that have more than enough food to eat,

The father Who sees his younger son a long way off,
runs out to welcome him,
Embraces him and kisses him.
Put the finest robe on him;
and a ring and sandals TOO.
And throws a huge banquet in his honor
with music and dancing!
Then with his elder Son,
this father leaves the party and seeks him out
responds to his complaints
with the affirmation of their connection
“My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.”
And invites him into the Banquet as well!

So.... So who do you identify with in the parable?
Who would you like to hang out with?
Who is your favorite?

Coming up in the next week we will have
our Lenten penance service,
a special time to celebrate the return
of the younger and elder, sons and daughters!

And as always,
as we come in from the field each week
we can also reconcile before Mass.

Be assured, our heavenly father will welcome us,
cloth us in grace,
and welcome us into the banquet once again.
The Banquet of our brother Jesus,
who “welcomes sinners,
(whatever crowd they belong to!)
and eats with them!”

Fr. John
 

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Lent 3 C 2025 (from last week)

by Lanie LeBlanc

For as long as I can remember, as an adult I have listened to/read from Cycle A during this period of Lent because we had folks studying to join the church at Easter. This year, my scripture group is following some other guidelines from our archdiocese from a program to foster parishioners’ reflection during Lent. The one reading chosen was from Cycle C so I read all of those readings for this reflection.

I was struck by the Gospel parable about the fig tree (Luke 13:1-9) as well as the first reading about the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15). Whether it is in reflecting on our own lives or on the lives of those close to us, as most people are prone to do, these readings hit close to home, literally and figuratively. Two things: First “I AM” is omni- everything but most of all the Faithful One throughout the ages. Secondly, fortunately for all of us, that includes the One who gives us all so very many chances to bear the intended fruit.

God also has a sense of humor, I think! As I reread the part about fertilizing the soil, I laughed out loud, trying to keep some humor in my own life. Fertilizer isn’t all vitamins. Ah, so that is why life has been so hard for so long! Thank you for the clarification, I AM. You got this!

Blessings,
Dr. Lanie LeBlanc OP
Southern Dominican Laity
lanie@leblanc.one

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Volume 2 is for you. Your thoughts, reflections, and insights on the next Sundays readings can influence the preaching you hear. Send them to preacherexchange@att.net. Deadline is Wednesday Noon. Include your Name, and Email Address.
-- Fr. John