On the one hand,
in the first reading today, St. Paul tells the Romans that for the baptized (and of any century and
era) life and death are now “in the Lord Jesus” – in whom we “died and rose”
when the waters were poured over our heads. We, each, are now “alive for the
Lord” – or ought to be – and none other – least especially for our own selves,
satisfactions, pleasures and superiority over others.
So, stop judging each other – your
life is in God – and if there is going to be any judging at all – it will be
when the end comes and we all stand before the judgment seat of God. We must ponder this reality often.
In the gospel passage we see two examples of how heaven rejoices when a
man or a woman realizes his errors, his faulty perceptions, his bad judgments
and decisions and goes to the Lord’s
presence – either in the Sacraments of Reconciliation or simply in private
prayer – and allows himself to be found like a lost sheep or coin.
All of heaven, and earth, should rejoice when a rightly formed conscience
makes the right choice and the proper creaturely, family relationship is
established or re-established. We are not meant to be servants and slaves of
God, cowering to his irrational will, but rather pampered children enjoying the
abundant gifts and surprises that our loving Father always has in store for
those who humble themselves and trust him completely – and not themselves or
their own devices.
Let us go to God then, in our labors,
and when we are burdened, for he is the source of amazing and deep rest and
peace!
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