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The notes taken during a catholic diocesan priests' retreat led by msgr. Douglas grams in april 2021. The retreat focused on the parables of jesus and how they relate to our lives. Reflections on four parables: the parable of the sower, the parable of the ten virgins, the parable of the good samaritan, and the parable of the lost son.
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by Msgr. Douglas Grams Diocesan Administrator Most of us have an awareness of being visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. I am a note-taker, which is a combination of all three, although listening is my preferred style. Last year our annual diocesan priests’ retreat was via Zoom, and we looked like members of the Brady Bunch but less photogenic. We gathered virtually for two conferences a day. It was fruitful, but an in-person retreat is preferable to a virtual retreat. On April 11-15, I joined the priests of the diocese for our annual retreat at King’s House in Buffalo, Minnesota. The priests enjoyed the opportunity to gather for prayer, reflection, and fellowship. Our retreat director this year was Fr. Charles Lachowitzer, vicar general for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The theme of our retreat was “The Parables of Jesus: Envelopes of Truth.” What follows is a summary of my notes during those five days. The Parables show us how the stories of our lives intersect with the life of Jesus. The parables of Jesus give us a great deal of information. Throughout the retreat, Fr. Lachowitzer spoke about how the parables are given to us in the form of a letter in an envelope. The outside of the envelope indicates whom it is intended for and who it is from. The content inside the envelope is the message. They are letters of truth addressed to each of us. Parables have many layers. We hear the parables of Jesus often proclaimed during Mass on the Sundays and weekdays of the year. We hear things differently each time they are presented to us, depending on the circumstances in our life. Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:1-23, Mk 4:1-10; Lk 8:4-15) In Jesus’ day, patches of good soil were scattered throughout the Holy Land. As Messiah, Jesus is the sower. We are sowers like Jesus, who brings the joy and good news of the gospel to those around us. As Catholic Christians, we believe there is good soil in everyone. The parable calls us to conversion so that our harvest may be 30, 40, or a hundred-fold. For reflection: What is growing in the garden of my soul? Where are good things growing in the souls of people around us? Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13) The parable calls us to active waiting as we shine our light in the world, in the darkness, and on ourselves. All of us experience a period of waiting during Advent in anticipation of the Incarnation. In the parable, we are called to be prepared for the second coming of Jesus. In this parable, the oil is the fuel required for a flame (i.e., light). The cost of the oil equals our faithful lives as we live out the gospel. For reflection: Recall the abundance of oil in your own life. Where am I a smaller light among my brothers and sisters in order to conserve my oil? Why do I conserve my oil? Where do I allow my light to shine? Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29-37) In the parable of the Good Samaritan, we are presented with a man who has been robbed, beaten, and in need of assistance. Following the purity laws found in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, it is no surprise that the priest and the Levite avoid coming near the wounded man. Purity laws required a quarantine for seven days and social distancing before they could take part in rituals at the temple. The Good Samaritan responds to human needs. For reflection: We are all in need of healing. How am I like the robber’s victim on the side of the road? Am I willing to have Jesus heal my wounds?
Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32) In this parable, we are shown a picture of God’s compassion and mercy. The father runs toward his son. In the story, the father is bound by laws of ritual purity and should not be running toward his son, who is unclean and has cut himself off from the family/community. The image of the father running toward his son is the hope of every parent, of every estranged child. The father is acting on his own. He forgives his son and restores his dignity and status. The son receives a ring, sandals and a robe. In the parable, Jesus reveals that his Father is the God of mercy who has no limits. For reflection: Imagine Jesus running toward you to offer forgiveness. Who are the people who may be running toward you seeking forgiveness? Rather than waiting for people to come to me, am I willing to reach out to those who want to return and don’t know how? The presentations during this retreat gave us another lens to look at the parables of Jesus. I am grateful that we were able to gather in person to be refreshed and renewed in order to offer hope and experience the presence of the Risen Lord with the people we are called to teach, lead and serve. As Christians, we are more apt to reflect on the process of conversion during Lent. However, the 50 days of Easter are a good opportunity to see how we are progressing.
por Monseñor Douglas Grams Administrador Diocesano La mayoría de nosotros aprendemos mirando, oyendo o con un aprendizaje kinestésico. A mi me gusta tomar notas, es una combinación de los tres, aunque escuchar es mi estilo preferido. El año pasado nuestro retiro anual de sacerdotes diocesanos fue a través de zoom. Nos reunímos virtualmente dos conferencias al día. El retiro fue productivo, pero un retiro en persona no puede reemplazar a un retiro virtual. Del 11 al 15 de abril, me uní a los sacerdotes de la diócesis para nuestro retiro anual en Buffalo, Minnesota. Los sacerdotes tuvieron la oportunidad para orar, reflexionar y compartir. Nuestro director del retiro fue el Padre Charles Lachowitzer, Vicario general de la Arquidiócesis de Saint Paul y Minneapolis. El tema de nuestro retiro fue Las Parábolas de Jesús: Sobres de la verdad. A continuación un resumen de mis notas durante esos cinco días. Las parábolas muestran una imagen de Jesús y cómo los eventos de nuestra vida se enlazan con las historias de Jesus. Las parábolas de Jesús nos dan mucha información. Durante el retiro el Padre Lachowitzer habló sobre cómo Jesús nos ofrece las parábolas en forma de una carta en un sobre. El exterior del sobre indica a quién está destinado y quién lo está enviando. El contenido del sobre es el mensaje. Son cartas de la verdad dirigidas a cada uno de nosotros. Las parábolas tienen muchas capas. Durante la misa dominical y entre la semana escuchamos frecuentemente las parábolas de Jesús. Cada vez se presenta de manera diferente, dependiendo de las circunstancias en nuestra vida cotidiana. La Parábola del Sembrador (Mateo 13:1-23, Marcos 4:1-10; Lucas 8:4-15) En la epoca de Jesús, se esparcieron semillas por toda la Tierra Santa. Como el Mesías, Jesús es el sembrador. Nosotros somos sembradores como Jesús, ya que trae el gozo y la buena nueva del Evangelio a quienes nos rodean. Como cristianos católicos, creemos que hay bondad en todos. La parábola llama nuestra atención a nuestra conversión, donde la cosecha puede ser 30, 40 o cien veces mayor. Pregunta de reflexión: ¿Qué está creciendo en el jardín de mi alma? ¿Dónde crecen las cosas buenas en el alma de los que nos rodean?