Posted: 3/7/2013 10:22:43 AM EDT
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First Reading:
Joshua 5:9a,10-12 9a. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have taken away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” 10. And the sons of Israel stayed at Gilgal, and they kept the Passover, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, in the plains of Jericho. 11. And on the following day, they ate unleavened bread from the grain of the land, and cooked grain, of the same year. 12. And the manna ceased after they ate from the grain of the land. And the sons of Israel no longer made use of that food. Instead, they ate from the grain of the present year, from the land of Canaan. Psalm: Psalms 34:2-7 R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17. So if anyone is a new creature in Christ, what is old has passed away. Behold, all things have been made new. 18. But all is of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19. For certainly God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not charging them with their sins. And he has placed in us the Word of reconciliation. 20. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, so that God is exhorting through us. We beseech you for Christ: be reconciled to God. 21. For God made him who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the justice of God in him. Gospel: Luke 15:1-3,11-32 1. Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him. 2. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This one accepts sinners and eats with them.” 3. And he told this parable to them, saying: 11. “A certain man had two sons. 12. And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them. 13. And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury. 14. And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need. 15. And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine. 16. And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him. 17. And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine! 18. I shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19. I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.’ 20. And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him. 21. And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.’ 22. But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 23. And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast. 24. For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast. 25. But his elder son was in the field. And when he returned and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26. And he called one of the servants, and he questioned him as to what these things meant. 27. And he said to him: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safely.’ 28. Then he became indignant, and he was unwilling to enter. Therefore, his father, going out, began to plead with him. 29. And in response, he said to his father: ‘Behold, I have been serving you for so many years. And I have never transgressed your commandment. And yet, you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might feast with my friends. 30. Yet after this son of yours returned, who has devoured his substance with loose women, you have killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31. But he said to him: ‘Son, you are with me always, and all that I have is yours. 32. But it was necessary to feast and to rejoice. For this brother of yours was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ ” Overview of the Gospel: • Today’s Gospel, the parable of the prodigal son, is one of three parables (see verses 4-10) that Jesus addresses to the Pharisees who challenged him for associating with “tax collectors and sinners” who flocked to hear Jesus’ words (verses 1-2). • The Pharisees were a religious party of Jesus’ day who prided themselves on strictly keeping to the prescriptions of the Jewish purity laws. Many of them were undoubtedly holy men, and they were generally respected by the people for their holiness and their refusal to cooperate with the occupying Romans. Some Pharisees, however, became legalistic and judgmental in their attitude toward those who did not meet their standards. These set themselves up in opposition to Jesus and his followers. They may also have been jealous when the despised tax collectors and sinners were drawn to Jesus and his gospel of mercy. • This Sunday’s parable can more accurately called the parable of the forgiving father, since he is can be seen as the main figure in the story. Just as God the Father is always ready to let us exercise our free will and go our own ways, in his mercy and compassion he is more than ready to be on the lookout for the least sign of our returning in repentance to him, and welcoming us home. As Jesus teaches earlier in this chapter, “there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7,11). Questions: • What stages does the younger son go through on his pilgrimage (verses 13-16)? What brings him to his senses? What does he realize then? With what sort of attitude does he approach his father? How does the father receive his son? Why? • How does the older brother feel about the younger brother’s return? Why? How does the father answer the older brother’s objections (verse 29)? • What’s Jesus’ point with this parable? What does this story teach about sin, repentance and God’s love? What does the First Reading tell us about God’s care for us and his solicitude to carry us through trials and temptations to the end? • Comparing yourself to the two brothers in this parable, who are you most like? Why? How have you experienced God as similar to this father? • Consider verse 31: What does God have to give you that you have not taken? |
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• What’s Jesus’ point with this parable? What does this story teach about sin, repentance and God’s love? What does the First Reading tell us about God’s care for us and his solicitude to carry us through trials and temptations to the end?
Great post for this Sunday's "Good News," Cat! This parable is only found in Luke. Jesus' point with this parable is simple: God's love for us is everlasting. His mercy endures forever. God is waiting by the side of the road to welcome us back into His family and to celebrate our rebirth. As we honestly examine our lives, we realize that the covenant instituted by Jesus is one of grace and mercy; of repentance and reconciliation. It's not caught up in fine points of legality nor endless sacrifices of animals or offerings. Mercy, as Christ has presented it in this parable, has as its basis the interior form of love which the New Testament calls agape. This love is able to reach down to every prodigal son, to every human misery, and above all to every form of moral misery; to sin. When this happens, the person who is the object of mercy does not feel humiliated, but rather found again and “restored to value.” The father first and foremost expresses to him his joy, that he has been “found again” and that he has “returned to life.” This joy indicates a good that has remained intact: even if he is a prodigal, the son does not cease to be truly his father’s son; it also indicates a good that has been found again, which in the case of the prodigal son was his return to the truth about himself. God's care for us is complete; He gives us everything we will ever need. 
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