Monthly Archives: March 2025

In All Circumstances

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In the first reading, we hear the end of the story of Naaman, a Syrian general, who has just been cured of his leprosy. When Naaman comes to Israel he encounters the prophet Elisha. Naaman has come bearing all manner of riches and gifts, but Elisha wants none of it. He simply instructs Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Pretty simple and ordinary, yes?

Lots of ways that Naaman could react. Scripture tells us he is not pleased. In effect he responds, “Are you kidding me? This nasty little river? I have great rivers in Damascus. Couldn’t I have washed there? And, aren’t you supposed to put on a big show? This was a serious waste of time.” And at that he turns to leave and go home.

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Focus?

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Where is the focus of the story? Is it the younger of the two sons? Afterall the parable is known as the prodigal son (by the way “prodigal” means wasteful.) Perhaps the focus should be on the father? Or perhaps it is a family story given the opening verse of the parable is: “A man had two sons.” (v.11). Again, Joel Green [578] offers valuable insight:

“Whose parable is it? The traditional answer, that it concerns a father with two sons, has much to commend it. Most importantly, the parable begins by naming ‘a man (who had two sons),’ and goes on to underscore his conciliatory responses to the insulting behavior of both sons. Three telling observations suggest that this is not the case, however. First, the narrative has two primary segments, each allowing the same story to be recounted—fully by Jesus (vv 11–24), then in summary fashion by ‘one of the slaves’ (vv 26–27). In the first, the emphasis falls on the younger son’s ‘loss’ and his father’s celebrative response to his return, while in the latter the emphasis falls on the younger son’s loss and his brother’s indignant reaction to his return.

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Lost, Found, Joy and Family

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The parable of the “Prodigal Son” does not stand alone. It is framed by the opening verses of the chapter and the parables which come before. One must always keep in mind that the three parables (Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son) are told in response to the complaint that Jesus welcomes and eats with “tax collectors and sinners.” The former being traitors to their religious family and the latter already standing condemned by the Laws of the family. They are people “outside the camp” – they are lost.

In the first parable when the lost sheep is found the shepherd invites others to “Rejoice with me.” (Lk 15:6). Jesus notes that there is “joy in heaven” (v.7) because – not that one was found – but that the lost one repented. In the second parable the woman invites others to rejoice with her because she has found the lost coin. Again, Jesus notes “there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (v.10) Again the focus is on repentance.

What is different about the third parable is that the dynamic is no longer property, but family.

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Asking “why”

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Maybe we should call this “Second Chance Sunday.” The first reading is the well-known story of Moses and the burning bush. But one needs to remember the reason Moses is out tending sheep in the desert of Midian is that he murdered a man back in Egypt and is on-the-run from the authorities. Yet God will give him a second chance and a major role in rescuing the Israelites from slavery. That’s a heck of a second chance. He takes advantage of it. Moses is leading a flock of sheep now, but will soon be leading the people of God in their Exodus to the promised land. Continue reading →

STAT

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If you have ever watched a movie or television series with hospital emergency room scenes, you have undoubtedly heard a medical professional say that they need something “Stat.” The context alone lets you know that the meaning is “immediately.” Did you ever wonder why “Stat” means “immediately?”

If the word was “stats” at least we know it is simply a shortened version of “statistics.” But the origin of “stat” as “immediately” is an abbreviation for the Latin word statim, also meaning “immediately.” Ok…. but why did the medical profession pick up the word for use? When stat first entered the English lexicon in the early 19th century, it was used by physicians clarifying that a drug or procedure should be administered immediately – with Latin being a source of words that could move across language barriers.

“Stat” is used today, sometimes to differentiate a medication that must be administered immediately from two other types of medication orders that are to be given immediately. What about if the medication is to be given as needed? Thank you, Latin for for pro re nata (literally, “for the affair born”), meaning “as needed.”

So, here’s hoping you read my blog pro re nata – or stat when a new one is published!

Faithful or Fruitful? Myths and Final Thoughts

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This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. All week long we have considered the need for repentance and what follows: the fruit of repentance. Based on Luke 12:1-13:9, the “fruit” might be summarized as referring to our relationship with God, our relationship with self (especially concerning money), and our relationship with others. And clearly in our passage there is a very strong accent on “repentance.” But what is it that we expect regarding our Christian “fruitfulness.”  In his book Purpose Driven Church, Pastor Rick Warren has a section dealing with “Myth #7: All God Expects of Us Is Faithfulness.” His answer to the meaning of fruitfulness is provocative and challenging:

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Repentance and Its Fruit

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This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. The previous post looked at the parable of the fig tree in the orchard in detail.  The parable highlighted Jesus’ teaching on the need for repentance that has been indicated throughout the section 12:1-13:9. A clear message of the teaching and the parable is that such repentance has its fruits as well as fruits we are expected to bear into the world.

  • Fear not of the one who can harm us in life, but righteous fear of the One who can cast into hell (12:5). 
  • Consider ourselves valuable because we are the ones in Creation that God sees as “very good” (v. 7) 
  • Acknowledge Christ as Savior before others (v. 8) 
  • Be on guard against greed (v. 15) 
  • Be rich towards God (v. 21) 
  • Don’t worry about your life (v. 22) 
  • Strive for the kingdom (v. 31) 
  • Sell possessions and give alms (v. 33) 
  • Be ready for the Son of Man’s return (vv. 35-40) 
  • Be doing what the master wants (v. 47) 
  • Interpret the present time (v. 56) 
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A Fig Tree in the Orchard: a parable

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This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. In the previous post we considered the meaning of “repentance” in the light of Jesus’ admonition that we do not know the time of the end of our days, but the day will come and so we are to repent of sin and seek righteousness before God.

6 And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, 7 he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. (So) cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ 8 He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; 9 it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” 

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Repentance

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This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. In the previous post we explored how Jesus responded to the people in their conversation about the tragedies that were “in the news.” One tragedy was intentional, a brutal event instigated by the Roman rulers; the other was an accident. Jesus’ response is that neither are indications of divine judgment against sinners. Rather, in view of the uncertainty of life and the unpredictability of the future one must be warned to examine one’s own life and repent.

In our passage, the verb “to repent” (metanoeo) is in the present tense (subjunctive), which implies continuous action = “be repentant” or “continue to repent” or “keep on repenting.” In other words, this does not speak to a once-for-all-time event that saves one from “perishing,” but rather a lifestyle of penitence.

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The Folly of Empty Worship

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Today’s gospel (Matthew 23:1-12) seems pretty clear in its intention: the burdens laid upon the people by the Pharisees and their scribes are not pleasing to the Lord. The burdens include the Pharisaic interpretations of the Law (You have heard it said….but I say to you) as well as the overly ritualized forms of temple/cultic worship. In many ways it is the same message Isaiah had for the people of his time, our first reading (Isaiah 1:10, 16-20).

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