BRIDGEPORT—Digging deeper into the roots of our own sinfulness can be the beginning of transforming our lives, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said in the homily for his online Mass on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The Bishop reflected on the gospel account (Matthew 21:28-32) of the two sons who resist their father’s request that they work in the vineyard. One son initially refuses but later changes his mind and does as he is asked. The other son quickly says “Yes Sir,” but does not go.
The passage concludes with Jesus saying, “When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
The bishop said at its deepest level the gospel challenges us to “work toward a conversion of heart and mind” that begins with coming to terms with our sinful behavior.
“We are called to literally change our minds or to turn our face–those are ways to describe the challenge of conversion in our life. The Lord asks us to lay aside our sinfulness so we can walk in his commands and do his work in service,” the bishop said.
Bishop Caggiano said one area of trepidation he felt as a young priest was the responsibility of celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He prayed that he would be equal to the task of bringing God’s mercy to those who were deeply troubled and burdened by their sins.
He overcame his concerns when he “came to realize that it’s not really me who is essential here. It’s the Lord’s mercy. Every priest is a channel of that mercy and the Holy Spirit gives us the words we need to help with the healing.”
He also realized as a young priest that most of us confess the same sins over and over—usually not big sins, but issues we struggle with that harm others and interfere with our ability to experience the fulness of God’s love.
“How do we take the challenge seriously and turn our mind and heart away from sins that seemingly always crop up?” he asked.
Using the image of the garden, the bishop said that when we walk by a garden and admire the flowers, we don’t think about its underground roots that give them life. We may also become exasperated by the weeds in our own garden.
“Sometimes to see the flower, you have to dig the weeds, and if you don’t get the weeds up by the roots, they will continue to grow,” he said, noting that the lesson nature can provide us is obvious.
“If you find yourself seeking forgiveness for the same sins, it’s time to look for the roots and at what is manifestly our sin that prevents us from turning our face and mind more and more to Jesus.”
Staying on the surface of our motivations is not good enough, said the bishop who added that it is important to spend time in deep reflection and honest examination of conscience with a spiritual guide who can help us.
By digging deeper and with the grace of God, we can understand “the root that powers sin in our lives” and become more aware of the reasons for our negative behavior.
“You and I need to spend time in the garden of our life and get our hands dirty and dig, and examine our own thoughts– your heart and mine– and seek to understand the desires that motivate us to act the way we do,” he said.
“We will have a life not filled with weeds, but with beautiful flowers—flowers that give glory to God and allow us to love our neighbor and grant us joy and peace in this life, and in life everlasting,” he said.
In brief remarks before the final blessing, the bishop invited all to watch the two-minute 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) video and thanked those who contributed online after last week’s Mass. He asked all in our diocese to give as generously as possible help to meet human need so those affected by the pandemic.
To donate to this year’s ACA, visit: https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration
