2nd Week of Lent
11th March 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Shepherd your people, [O Lord,] with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant. of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 (R. 8a)
R/. The Lord is compassionate and gracious.
Gospel : Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: he said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me. And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants." And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.""
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Mercy without bounds!
Indicative: God’s mercy is without measure and reserve. There are no conditions or restrictions. It is just enough to repent and return{alertSuccess}
1. The season of lent is not something negative but essentially positive. It is not a time of sadness and melancholy but joy. It should not evoke in us a sense of guilt and remorse or disturbing regret. Rather, it must ignite in us a sincere spirit of repentance and determined renewal
2. Lent is positive because our focus is not on our sins but on God’s mercy. It is a time of joy because God joyfully accepts and restores us to grace. Today’s readings impress upon us God’s boundless mercy. They give us tremendous assurance and comfort because God never rejects us when we repent and return to Him.
3. See how the people of Israel confide in God’s abiding mercy and pray for the same! They attest, “Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin…Who does not persist in anger forever, but rather delights in clemency… Will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt. You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins… You will show faithfulness …and grace”
4. The gospel gives a touching illustration of this abounding mercy of God through the most popular parable of the prodigal son. Though often the focus is on the prodigal son, actually the central figure is the father. It is indeed the parable of the “prodigal father”, “who goes out of his way”
5. The father’s positive “prodigality” is seen in various factors: in his love, respect, freedom, anguish, hope, patience, waiting, forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration. He loves his son so much. He respects his freedom and leaves him free. He does not constrain or force him though he could
6. He suffers silently in anguish at the separation. But he never gives up hope or becomes desperate. he patiently awaits his son’s return. As soon as his son is on his way back, he wastes no time receiving him. He runs to him. There are no rebukes, no moral lecturing, no poking, no proving himself right and his son, wrong. He immediately reconciles his son with him. And he restores him to his original dignity of a son
Imperative: The parable of the prodigal son is a strong summon for repenting and returning. We can return because we are absolutely sure that God will receive us, forgive us and reinstate us in our early dignity{alertSuccess}