By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preached this homily while celebrating Mass at San Isidro Mission in Pompano Beach, March 30, 2025. During the Mass, the archbishop established San Isidro as a “parish” rather than a mission and installed Father Wilfredo Contreras as its pastor.
At the beginning of Mass, I officially “upgraded” the status of San Isidro from that of a “mission” to a “parish.” In a sense, nothing much changes. You still have to pay your bills. But sometimes, the word “mission” implies something temporary, also sometimes, it also implies some dependency, that the mission needs outside help in order to make a go of things. And did I say, you have to pay your bills? So, naming San Isidro a parish recognizes that after many years it has reached a certain level of maturity, that it can survive without subsidies, and more importantly, it is here to stay.
The parable we have just heard in the Gospel reading is perhaps the one that is the most familiar to us of all of Jesus’ parables. It is usually called the "Parable of the Prodigal Son,” but it could be better called the "Parable of the Merciful Father." Here, on display, for us all, is the depth and the breath of God’s love, his mercy, for each one of us.
En los evangelios, los fariseos y los escribas se quejaban de que Jesús acogía a los pecadores y comía con ellos.
Pero Jesús ve tanto a los fariseos como a los pecadores como hijos del Padre y hermanos entre sí. Y, en lugar de discutir con ellos, les cuenta la historia del “hijo pródigo”. La "Parábola del Hijo Pródigo" podría llamarse mejor "Parábola del Padre Misericordioso". Aquí se muestra, para todos nosotros, la profundidad y la fuerza del amor de Dios, su misericordia, por cada uno de nosotros. Que no se ha olvidado de nadie, que espera que reinicien su camino al acercarse a Él aquí, en el banquete Eucarístico. No importa de dónde vengan, no importa la distancia que hayan puesto entre ellos y Dios, si los ve regresar a casa, saldrá corriendo, los abrazará y los traerá de vuelta a su Casa… ¿Y acaso no somos todos pecadores reconciliados que comenzamos la Misa reconociendo nuestros pecados y nos acercamos a la Sagrada Comunión solo después de orar: “Señor, no soy digno…”
In the Gospels, the Pharisees and the scribes complained that Jesus welcomed sinners and ate with them. And aren’t we all reconciled sinners who begin Mass by acknowledging our sins and approach Holy Communion only after praying, “Lord, I am not worthy but say the word and my soul will be healed.”
But the Pharisees whose name means “separated ones” saw themselves as having no relationship with sinners. Jesus, on the other hand, saw “sinners” as “lost souls” who needed to be found. The Pharisees wanted those lost souls to stay lost.
But Jesus sees both the Pharisees and the sinners as children of the Father, and brothers to each other. And rather argue the point with them, he tells this story of the “Prodigal Son”.
But those who are still out there in that “inhospitable place,” which is in that world in which God doesn’t matter, need to hear the Good News that God still loves them anyway, that he hasn’t forgotten them, that he is waiting for them to begin again by coming to him here at the Eucharistic banquet. No matter how far they come from, not matter how great the distance they have placed between themselves and God, if he sees them coming back home, he will rush out, throw his arms around them, embrace them and bring them back into his House.
In this sense, this parish – and all parishes – are called to be reconciled and reconciling communities of faith, hope, and love.
Of course, since San Isidro is now a “parish” – una parroquia y no una simple misión - I will formally install Father Wilfredo Contreras as your pastor. Instalaré formalmente al Padre Wilfredo Contreras como su párroco.
Now he’s been here for a while. Now, as “pastor,” he has a new title but the same responsibilities, and the same salary. But, by naming him pastor, I am basically saying: You get to keep him. As a zealous pastor of souls, he should have no agenda other than to proclaim to you in union with his bishop Jesus Christ – crucified and yet risen from the dead.
For the Christian, love is much more than just a sentiment or some passing emotion. For the Christian, love is not about “feeling good” but rather it is about “doing good.” For a pastor, doing good requires that he seek to grow in the exercise of what St. John Paul II called “pastoral charity.” Founded on the Eucharist, pastoral charity leads us to give of our time generously – even when people demand of us our time at inopportune moments; pastoral charity demands a zeal for souls so that no one is considered beyond reach, beyond hope. Pastoral charity looks out for the marginalized, the neglected, the lonely: in other words, the least, the last and the lost sheep. A true pastor feeds the sheep – and doesn’t seek to feed off the sheep.
Estoy seguro de que el Padre Wilfredo Contreras les servirá bien; y no lo hará atrayendo la atención hacia sí mismo, sino atrayendo la atención hacia el Señor; no servirá buscando sus propios intereses, sino priorizando la voluntad de Dios y el bien de su pueblo; no servirá intentando complacer a todos, pues quien intenta eso generalmente termina complaciendo a nadie; más bien, les servirá mejor tratando de complacer al Señor en todo.
Wilfredo, love your people with a shepherd’s heart and feed them, lead them to Christ and teach them gently – by word and example.
Father Wilfredo Contreras, I am sure, will serve you well; and he will serve not by calling attention to himself but by calling attention to the Lord; he will serve not by seeking his own interests but by putting first God’s will and his people’s good and well-being; he will serve not by trying to please everyone – for one who tries to do that usually ends up pleasing no one; rather he will serve you best by trying to please the Lord in all things.
Wilfredo, ama a tu pueblo con corazón de pastor y aliméntalo, guíalo a Cristo y enséñale con dulzura, con tu palabra y tu ejemplo.
