Homilies in general have been described as nutritious meals — you may not remember each one, but still they nourish you at each Mass.

 

However, a few are truly memorable like one that the late Father Matthew Rudden provided some years ago. 

 

His household at the time consisted of himself, two dogs and two cats. Both dogs stayed within the fenced backyard, as did one of the cats. But the other liked to go exploring beyond the fence. And one night, she didn’t come back.

 

No sign of her the second day … or the third. Searches were unsuccessful.

 

In the middle of the fourth night without their wayward friend, suddenly there was a sound at the window. And there she was!

 

The cat came in when he opened the door. And then, Father Rudden said, “I brought out the cat food. I brought out the dog food. And I cut myself a big piece of pie. And there was MUCH rejoicing!”

 

With His parables about the lost sheep and the lost coin, and, of course, the Prodigal Son, Jesus tries to help sinners — in other words, all of us — understand that however much we may long for heaven, the heavenly host outdoes that in their longing for us.

 

So often we hear or read about people who have connected with Jesus and turned their lives around. But often when they talk about their former lives, they describe themselves as having felt unlovable, undesirable, and they figured they were rejected and forgotten by God.

 

Nothing is farther from the truth.

 

Two of the most joyful people I’ve met are women who each have had multiple abortions. But first, once it had really sunk into them what they had done, they were far from joy. Both sank into various forms of misery.

 

Post abortion counseling and retreats helped, giving them hope that perhaps they could be forgiven. And finally they were able to accept God’s forgiveness for what they confessed. With that acceptance, they discovered His love for them … for them!!! And everything improved, even though a certain amount of healing and sorrow, repentance and acceptance were ongoing.

 

Looking around at society and the larger world, we obviously have cause to condemn the immorality, the meanness, the greed, the pride on display. But also, when we look at individuals, we can mourn about how they are so missing out on the love God has for them. 

 

Sin disconnects us from God and His love, and it leaves us vulnerable to the evil half-truths and flat-out lies of the devil and his minions who seek to rob us of hope of ever finding solace and love.

 

St. Patrick of Ireland talks about surrounding himself with the armor of God to deflect the devil’s evil efforts. St. Therese of Lisieux used to run away from situations of great temptation. St. John Vianney just kept going and doing his duties when the devil was working overtime to convince him his efforts were futile.

 

We can plan our defense mechanisms once we let go of any thoughts that being God’s good and faithful servant will be easy. It is a battle and sometimes we fall.

 

Whenever we do and then find it hard to believe that Jesus is more than willing to carry us back to His fold, these words from St. Therese may be helpful:

 

“I feel (that), even though I had on my conscience all the sins that can be committed, I would go, my heart broken with sorrow, and throw myself into Jesus’ arms, for I know how much He loves the prodigal child who returns to Him.”

 

Like the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, the lost cat, we can be sure that returning to Jesus is the answer. 

 

And there will be much rejoicing!