Geeky Catholic Dad

Gospel Reading: Luke 16:1-13 Highlight:  "You cannot serve both God and mammon." Reflection: The parable of the dishonest steward has never really made sense to me. I just can't figure out what the steward did that was so praiseworthy. His job was in danger because of his dishonesty, but he ends up saving himself through further dishonesty? What kind of message is Jesus trying to send? Here's the best I can figure out. The steward acted greedily and foolishly, but in the end, he showed mercy to people that owed his master, in the hope of receiving mercy after being dismissed. He prioritized relationships over wealth, after realizing that his dishonest wealth would be taken away from him. I think that what Jesus is saying is not that this steward was a paragon of virtue that we should emulate, but rather that even sinners sometimes recognize something that we don't. They realize the importance of mercy and friendship. The goods of this world are temporary. If w

Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-32 Highlight:  "While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion." Reflection: I, like many Christians, have read the parable of the prodigal son countless times. So the question is: Is there anything left to learn from this parable? I must admit, I really didn't think so when I started reading. I almost gave up on writing a reflection this week. But then the Holy Spirit prodded me, and I noticed something. The father in the story did not chase after his son. He didn't find him partying in some distant town, and convince him to come home. Rather, the emptiness and fruitlessness of the prodigal son's godless existence drove him back to his father. I wonder, then, if sometimes we take the wrong approach. Maybe I'm too focused on how to bring back certain people who are outside the Church, and not attentive enough to those who are on their way back and need someone to welcome them back

Gospel Reading: Luke 14:25-33 Highlight:  "Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?" Reflection: Jesus asks us to give everything to him. Every part of us. So if we are still holding onto possessions or relationships that don't lead us closer to Christ, then trying to be a disciple of Christ is futile. If we know that Jesus will ask everything of us, we had better be sure we have made everything available give. Geeky Quote:  "Will he finish what he begins?" - Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back Prayer:  Lord Jesus, prepare me to give every part of myself to you. Amen. To get these short reflections every week, click the Subscribe button at the top of this page, or you can "Like" or "Follow" the GeekyCatholicDad Facebook page  here .