Author: Gwenda Coté (page 7)

Forgive and be forgiven, hold bound and be held bound. From the depth of Jesus’ humanity, He knows forgiveness is complicated and calls his disciples to this very high standard. Forgiveness is hard when we are sinned against and broken by the hurt.

This story is God’s way of reminding us that He doesn’t want to see those qualities in us either. He doesn’t like it when we are close-minded and dismissive of others. He doesn’t appreciate it when we are sharp-tongued or short-tempered.

Doubt is the striving of the soul for truth. We must dig deeply into our souls to name the winds of doubt that haunt us. 

Eucharist is not meant to simply make us more reverent or holy. It is intended to transform us— to transfigure us —into the living Body of Christ.

The purchase price of the treasure is the same for us as it was for the farmer and the merchant. The price is all that we have. And selling is hard.

We are all both wheat and weeds. God’s unconditional love cannot cast out the good for the sake of the bad.

Here is where many of us lose track of the message of Jesus. We are doing our best to be good people living witnesses of all the Gospel calls us to be. But!

Jesus sent them all. He sent them with their limitations and weakness. He sent them all to be His voice of hope and promise, His hand of healing, and His heart of love. 

Just as that call was for the Apostles, it is for each of us. No exceptions or excuses are allowed.

Prayer is sitting open before the Lord and allowing God to shower us with whatever gifts or insights He chooses.

Sheep are defenseless creatures. They do not have claws or loud howls. Sheep can run fast or fly away when danger comes.