The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 4th Sunday in Lent – Fr. Christopher
Whether we gaze with longing into the garden, or with fear and trembling into the desert, of this we can be sure—God walked there first.
Whether we gaze with longing into the garden, or with fear and trembling into the desert, of this we can be sure—God walked there first.
The suffering of Christ on Calvary is at the heart of our faith. Why did Jesus suffer? How can I “proclaim Christ crucified” in ways that give hope? — that we have been redeemed through the passion of Christ.
May God strengthen us inwardly, that with the joy of the Holy Spirit, we may offer God something above the measure required of us. Amen.
May God strengthen us inwardly, that with the joy of the Holy Spirit, we may offer God something above the measure required of us. Amen.
Jesus knows this law as well as any other rabbi of His day. But He chooses to break the law in a most deliberate and decisive way—He actually stretches out His hand and touches the leper who came for a cure. Touches him. Inexcusable! Irresponsible! But it works! Jesus’ tender touch makes the leper clean.
"Care of the sick and infirm reminds us most visibly of how God deals with us graciously in our weakness. There is the tendency in all of us to stand tall and proud, attractive in strength and talent. We even rely on those things and think of those things as important to our relationships with others. . . . And so, we need a reminder that God does not glory in our accomplishments. God loves us for who we are—fragile and failing human beings—bent for another kind of glory where the accomplishment is God’s and ours is the gratitude."
On May 3rd, 2020, Fr. Christopher Panagoplos recorded his first Sunday homily to be shared with the Secular Franciscan Order. Since then, faithfully, he has prepared and delivered a homily each week, reflecting on the scriptures from a Franciscan perspective. As we approach the beginning of a fourth year of these treasures, Fr. Christopher shares in his most recent homily for Sunday, January 28th, 2024, the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, some insights about how our following in the footsteps of our Seraphic Father, Francis, we are following in the footsteps of Christ himself.