Dear Parishioners of St. James:
Praised be Jesus Christ!
In order to rejoice with God forever we must repent of our sins. Jesus gives three parables in today’s Gospel and each concern rejoicing after finding what was lost. The first concerns a lost animal, the second a lost coin, and the third a lost human being, a wayward son who was lost in mortal sin. If finding an animal or some money that was lost brings great rejoicing, how much more a family member who returns to God’s grace!
God is merciful when we admit our sins; He is just when we do not. The good news is that God is preparing a great party for us filled with rejoicing if we only turn to Him and ask pardon for our sins. The prodigal son committed every kind of sin imaginable. But, “He came to his senses” and returned to his father and asked for pardon (Lk. 15:17). Have we “come to our senses” regarding sin? Do we realize that the only sensible thing to do with our sins is to confess them to Jesus?
Whenever we abuse our freedom and choose to sin, God stores up mercy for the sinner. We show that we’ve come to our senses when we confess our sins to the priest in the Sacrament of Penance. God’s forgiveness opens us up to rejoicing with Him in His house. After being absolved of mortal sin we can return to Holy Communion, the reception of the Body of Christ, our eternal life. We also are given a place in the eternal banquet called Heaven which is a festival of rejoicing that never ends. Are you ready for rejoicing that has no end? Then come to your senses and ask pardon of Jesus.
God bless you,
Fr. Geary
Saint James Catholic Church 