The Father's Unfailing Love - Weekday Homily Video

Some of us here are grandparents, parents, or even guardians. We have been or still are involved in the noble work of raising children into good, responsible, faith-filled adults. We give them all the parental love there is for a person to grow into a well-integrated individual. It is also possible that many of you have had situations where those being raised manifest behaviors that reflect stubbornness, rejecting the path you are trying to provide for them. Worse still, as teenagers, they retort, tell all kinds of lies, mock or ridicule you assuming that they are grown up, and they are free to chart their own course, making your life miserable. When in trouble then they call for help. As good parents, we always come back with love, care and forgiveness sometimes trying even to enable their dysfunctional behavior. Looking into our past, maybe we were not so different.

A Patient Father

The parable of the wicked tenants presents us with a similar scenario. It addresses God’s tremendous love for the chief priests, scribes and pharisees, God’s unfailing patience and trust in them by providing them all the opportunities to establish strong and faithful relationship with him through accepting Jesus’ teachings. Just like the tenants in the parable despite all the abundant blessings and opportunities given to them they reject and want to kill Jesus just as they did to the prophets. Jesus confronts these religious authorities through this parable to expose their hardened hearts and their rejection of God’s messengers throughout history.

What is the parable to do with us? It invites us to reflect on the unwavering love and mercy of God, even in the face of rejection and betrayal. It challenges us to consider our own responses to the abundant blessings and opportunities he has bestowed on us. The parable richly conveys some important truths about God and the way he deals with us. God is generous and trusting of us, he entrusts us with many blessings, graces, and freedom to run life as we choose. God is patient and just, not once, but many times he extends his forgiveness to us expecting us to surrender to his will instead of selfishly trying to claim authority for ourselves. It invites us to align our actions with God’s will. Basically, the parable underscores the significance of recognizing Jesus as the cornerstone of our faith and prompts introspection on how we respond to God’s call in our lives.

Heeding God's Call

We can ask ourselves; When God calls us to come closer to him, do we always heed his call and obey willingly, or do we sometimes resist and turn away? Are we open to the ways God calls to participate in his mission or do we shy away, let fear ad distractions get in the way? Are we nurturing the opportunities and blessings in our life to bear fruit that honors God?

• Today’s Readings
  
  
• Father Fulgren’s inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center today. You can watch the entire Mass on the Family Rosary Video streams channel on YouTube.
  
  
• Join the Rosary (11:30 am ET) and Mass (Noon ET) livestreams on the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page, Monday – Friday. Invite your friends and family to pray with you as well.