The merciful father, the prodigal son and the envious brother

February 27, 2016

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Saint of the Day: Saint leander, Bishop (c. 540-596)

Reading 1

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

14Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, That dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,

as in the days of old;[1] 15As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,

show us wonderful signs.

18Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of His inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, 19And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; 20You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers

from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

R. (8a)The Lord is kind and merciful.

1Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless His holy name. 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

3He pardons all your iniquities, He heals all your ills. 4He redeems your life from destruction, He crowns you with kindness and compassion.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

9He will not always chide, nor does He keep His wrath forever. 10Not according to our sins does He deal with us, nor does He requite us according to our crimes.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is His kindness toward those who fear Him. 12As far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our transgressions from us.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Verse Before The Gospel Luke 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.

Gospel

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

1Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,[2] 2but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3So to them Jesus addressed this parable. 11“A man had two sons, 12and 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.

13After 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. 14When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

17Coming 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. 18I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

20So 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. 21His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

22But 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. 23Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.

25Now 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. 26He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29He 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. 30But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

31He 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.”

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Notes on Readings:

[1] Micah 7:14-17 - This prayer appears to be from the time after the return from exile (537 B.C.), when the people, few in number, possessed only a fragment of their former land, and were surrounded by hostile nations.

[2] Luke 15:1-32 - To the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) that Luke shares with Matthew (Matthew 18:12-14), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, Luke 15:8-10; the prodigal son, Luke 15:11-32) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus' particular concern for the lost and God's love for the repentant sinner.