Gospel: Luke 15:1-3,11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Thomas Martin RIP.
Reflection:
The late Cardinal Jaime Sin, former Archbishop of Manila, once commented that today’s parable should have been entitled “The Parable of the Prodigal Father”. Indeed, despite the younger son’s attitude – asking for his share of his father’s estate when the father was still alive and then dissipating his inheritance – the father still welcomed him. Notice the father’s attitude: “While he (the younger son) was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” Before that encounter, the son rehearsed what he was to say to his father: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ But when he met his father, he was not able to say, “treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ Perhaps the father stopped him. Perhaps it was enough that his son admitted his mistake. This parable, for me, is one of the beautiful Gospels this Lent. It is full of hope for the worst sinner and for those who look down on sinners. Why? Because it gives us a clear picture of how prodigal a Father God is to everyone.
- Who do you picture yourself in this parable: the father, the elder son, or the younger son? Why?
- What lessons can you learn from the father, the elder son, and the younger son?
- What holds you back from returning to God and His Church?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. United with You, may we humbly return to the Father’s loving embrace this Lent. Amen.
Suggested Lenten penance: Pray for someone who has stopped practicing the faith.
(Pietro)
