In this opening lesson of The Second Half of Life, Father John Gribowich invites you to move beyond a faith centered only on rules, right answers, and belonging, and into a lived spirituality marked by mercy, encounter, and vocation. Rooted in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, this course explores how Christian formation (the “first half of life”) prepares us for a more expansive calling: recognizing God’s presence in unexpected people, places, and moments, and responding with compassion rather than judgment.

You will reflect on how Scripture, doctrine, and moral teaching are not meant to create closed systems, but to free us for deeper love of neighbor and a more universal vision of God at work in the world. This session challenges you to see your own life as a living homily—one shaped not only by what you believe, but by how you respond to the suffering, dignity, and mystery before you.

This course is for anyone sensing that God may be inviting them into a richer, more generous way of living their faith—one that honors formation, embraces mercy, and opens the heart to the second half of life.