To: all of my friends
From: Father Bill Muench
 
Father Bill says…February 21, 2009
 
In preparation for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
 
This was a very quiet week after a rather busy weekend – last weekend, there was the wedding in Syracuse – and on Sunday, I attended Mass – just like an ordinary person – with Susan and Paul and their children.  I learned a great deal as a priest about how the people in the pews feel and react at Mass.  It was a good experience for me.  Since the pastor was away, the priest celebrant was an old friend, Father Fran Pompei.  And as always he was wonderful – his homily touched us all – and he drew us all into the Eucharist with his open and caring Spirit.  So the experience was a great one for me – Now I must incorporate what I learned into my Masses this weekend.
 
Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday – I will take some time this Sunday to remind the people about Lent – and encourage them to get a plan – Lent is good – it sometimes seemed a little annoying at first – I often forget what I have decided to do in the first week – like not eating between meals – I often march right out into the kitchen in the evening – longing for a little ice cream – or a lot – and then remember – its Lent.  Suddenly, my self-control is tested – and then my motivation – you are doing this for God – you are doing this to atone for your failings – you are doing this to become a new person in the Spirit of my Savior, who suffered and died for me.
 
This Sunday’s Old Testament reading from Isaiah is a good preparation for Lent.  Isaiah is writing to the Hebrew people who are returning from the Babylonian Captivity – he speaks in the name of God to reassure them – and to encourage them to begin a new – to form a new spirit in their nation – to make themselves new in the Lord – “Remember not the events of the past, I am doing something new.”  That is what Lent is all about – not just for us to remember our failings of the past – but to become something new in the Lord – not just eliminating something – a bad habit or sin – from our lives – rather that we become something new – when Easter comes my Lenten program should have molded me into a new person – closer to the Lord – ready to live in the Spirit of my Savior in a better way – stronger – my self control ever stronger – Lenten changes in my life should not end with Easter – but continue and continue. 
 
Sunday’s Gospel is a story we have heard often – four men are carrying a paralytic to Jesus – they cannot get into the house where he is teaching the people – it is jammed – so they climb up on the roof – remove some of the thatching – lower the paralytic to Jesus’ fee – Jesus says to the man – “Your sins are forgiven” – the Hebrew Scribes (religious leaders) are upset – “who can forgive sins – only God – Jesus asks, “Which is easier to say, Your sins are forgiven – or – rise and take up your mat and walk – but continues Jesus, “so that you may know the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins – he said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat and go home.”  And the man is healed and leaves.
 
Notice how Jesus turns this situation around – these men come for a physical healing – Jesus makes it a spiritual experience – they see only the paralysis of a friend – Jesus sees an opportunity for spiritual renewal – Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven” – the Scribes are confused – the paralytic and his friends are confused – so Jesus asks which is easier – to forgive sins or heal a paralytic – our response is probably to forgive sins – who will ever know – what is the test – Jesus verifies his power to forgive sins by healing the man – our question will be has the man’s life been changed – is he going to live a good life – does he realize just what it means to have the Lord, himself, forgive his sins.
 
Jesus’ point (I think) – Jesus can deal with our physical needs more easily than changing our lives by forgiving our sins – Jesus must often find it very difficult to convince us of our goodness and God’s love by forgiving our sins – do we truly understand the unconditional forgiving love of our God that should make us new persons – if so, we would be living a better life in a new spirit – in the spirit of our God – we would be saints.
 
Notice Jesus ends by sending the man home – go home and show your family what has happened to you – go home and live a good life – now that you are healed and forgiven – lead your family to a new life by sharing God’s love with them – rejecting all that is sinful – make your family a happy and more peaceful and loving family.
 
LET US PRAY
 
Almighty God, my Father, I come today seeking your healing power – cure me of all that keeps me from loving you – from living in your love – forgive my failings and draw me ever closer to you.  This is my prayer.  Amen.
 
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer
 
P.S. – I have decided to post these letters on one of those blog sights – you can find it by googling “tipastor.blogspot.com” – or even just “tipastor” – and you can leave any comments – I would love to see some of your reactions.  I have included there some personal comments of my own, also.