Posted: 3/5/2016 6:53:10 AM EDT
(The Lost Son Now Found) Fourth Sunday of Lent Lectionary: 33 6 MARCH 2016 A.D. 
(Gilgal on the Plains of Jericho, overhead) First Reading JOS 5:9A, 10-12 The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month. On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan. 
(Taste and See) Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. 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 COR 5:17-21 Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 
Verse Before The Gospel LK 15:18 I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 
(The Return of the Prodigal Son, Edouard de Jans, ca 1881) Gospel LK 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.’” Bible Study--Fourth Sunday of Lent--Cycle C (courtesy of Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics) 
(Prodigal Son-the Turning Point, Stephanie Frostad) "I'm certain of this - that if my conscience were burdened with all the sins it's possible to commit, I would still go and throw myself into our Lord's arms, my heart all broken up with contrition; I know what tenderness He has for any prodigal child of His that comes back to Him." –St. Therese of Lisieux |
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Quoted:
Very welcome, Brother artman54! Yes--a HUGE blessing going out to you and Sister, angelfire! (Hope you both are well. Up here the flu, bronchitis, and even pneumonia are running rampant. Everyone seems ill....) We went through that a month ago. Bad stuff. |
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Quoted: Very welcome, Brother artman54! Yes--a HUGE blessing going out to you and Sister, angelfire! (Hope you both are well. Up here the flu, bronchitis, and even pneumonia are running rampant. Everyone seems ill....) Oh my goodness. Prayers for you all to recover quickly. The cough hangs around forever. This has been just a difficult time for us and no doubt a test of faith. Todays gospel hit me in the gut. As many times as I have heard this gospel I always thought of those who sit in the church as being like the son who was present, hard working, didn't stray from the father. Over the years I've prayed for all those who had left the church or who just seemed lost. Today I realize how lost the other son was even though he never left his fathers side. You can be in the presence of God but not present at all. Who was really lost? You can go to church and miss the entire message; Or take it for granted? It only took me 50 years to figure it out. That's a long time in the Desert. The father never stops watching for us. And when he sees us off in the distance He prepares a feast before we can even get to the gate! All we have to do is walk toward Him. God bless you all and thanks for the prayers. I am so grateful for you and them! AF |
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Thanks, angelfire! Yep--that persistent coughing--we've been "barking" worse than our pack o' Beagles!
Hey! you are 100% right, angelfire! the son who stayed at home, he lived there with the Father, but he was out of touch as well! the prodigal son was absent in a physical way, whereas the other son was really "dead" spiritually. the worst part: the prodigal son demanded his inheritance share before his father died! in effect, the son was really telling the father--"Wish you were dead! I need stuff." WOW! Father still welcomed the prodigal son back--no questions asked--what is past is forgotten-- 
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Quoted:
Oh my goodness. Prayers for you all to recover quickly. The cough hangs around forever. This has been just a difficult time for us and no doubt a test of faith. Todays gospel hit me in the gut. As many times as I have heard this gospel I always thought of those who sit in the church as being like the son who was present, hard working, didn't stray from the father. Over the years I've prayed for all those who had left the church or who just seemed lost. Today I realize how lost the other son was even though he never left his fathers side. You can be in the presence of God but not present at all. Who was really lost? You can go to church and miss the entire message; Or take it for granted? It only took me 50 years to figure it out. That's a long time in the Desert. The father never stops watching for us. And when he sees us off in the distance He prepares a feast before we can even get to the gate! All we have to do is walk toward Him. God bless you all and thanks for the prayers. I am so grateful for you and them! AF Angelfire. Nice to see you posting. Hope all is well. I've missed your gracious and intelligent post and responses. Quoted:
Quoted:
Very welcome, Brother artman54! Yes--a HUGE blessing going out to you and Sister, angelfire! (Hope you both are well. Up here the flu, bronchitis, and even pneumonia are running rampant. Everyone seems ill....) This has been just a difficult time for us and no doubt a test of faith. Todays gospel hit me in the gut. As many times as I have heard this gospel I always thought of those who sit in the church as being like the son who was present, hard working, didn't stray from the father. Over the years I've prayed for all those who had left the church or who just seemed lost. Today I realize how lost the other son was even though he never left his fathers side. You can be in the presence of God but not present at all. Who was really lost? You can go to church and miss the entire message; Or take it for granted? It only took me 50 years to figure it out. That's a long time in the Desert. The father never stops watching for us. And when he sees us off in the distance He prepares a feast before we can even get to the gate! All we have to do is walk toward Him. God bless you all and thanks for the prayers. I am so grateful for you and them! AF Angelfire. Nice to see you posting. Hope all is well. I've missed your gracious and intelligent post and responses. |
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Quoted: ROGER THAT! All of your thoughts and prayers, angelfire, are DEEPLY APPRECIATED! BNA Quoted: Angelfire. Nice to see you posting. Hope all is well. I've missed your gracious and intelligent post and responses. ROGER THAT! All of your thoughts and prayers, angelfire, are DEEPLY APPRECIATED! BNA  You both are like water in the desert and answered prayers. I am the one grateful for you all!Have a blessed week! So grateful! |