Welcome to the Parable Retreat

“Lighting Candles of Courage”

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 13: 24 - 30

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' ‘An enemy did this,' he replied. The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' ‘No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

To My Mother
Wendell Berry

I was your rebellious son,
do you remember? Sometimes
I wonder if you do remember,
so complete has your forgiveness been.
I wonder sometimes if it did not
precede my wrong, and I erred,
safe found, within your love,
prepared ahead of me, the way home,
or my bed at night, so that almost
I should forgive you, who perhaps
foresaw the worst that I might do,
and forgave before I could act,
causing me to smile now, looking back,
to see how paltry was my worst,
compared to your forgiveness of it
already given. And this, then,
is the vision of that Heaven of which
we have heard, where those who love
each other have forgiven each other,
where , for that, the leaves are green,
the light is music in the air,
and all is unentangled,
and all is undismayed.

Reflective Questions

Do you see a connection between the poem and the Scriptures?”

What is the cross you are being invited to carry this Lent?

What or who is giving you strength to carry that cross?

Please bring to our small group session a candle, your journal notes, matches, a cross from your home.