Sunday Gospel Reflection
I will arise and go to my father

Introduction

Second Chances

When are 'second chances' fair? We all get second chances in life. Chances to start over. Chances to right a wrong. Chances to make a difference. Of course, many times second chances are not fair or just. But, when we received our personal second chances, did we deserve them or were they gifts?

The religious leadership criticized Jesus for gathering sinners around him. In response, he old the most famous parable about second chances ever recorded.

First Reading
Joshua 5:9-12

9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal [1] to this day.
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.
11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.
12 The manna stopped the day after [2] they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

Second Reading
2 Corinthians 5:17-21

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[1] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Gospel Reading
Luke 15:1-3,11-32

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
3 So he told them this parable:
...
11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons;
12 and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them.
13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.
14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.
15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.
17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."'
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 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.'
22 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;
23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.
25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.
27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
29 but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!'
31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Bible Study/Meditation

The parable of the Prodigal Son which we read in this week’s Gospel Reading, reflects elements of both celebration and of belonging. The wayward son returns, having rejected both his family and his family’s values. In desperation he finally comes to his senses and returns home. Occasions of such repentance are not the time for recriminations but for celebration!

One who was as dead is alive again. The father of the Prodigal Son, illustrative of our heavenly Father, watching for his wayward son’s return, runs to welcome the Prodigal home. He immediately sets about to have a banquet in his son’s honor. Like Jesus—"This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Similar to the religious hypocrites, who challenged Jesus, so the elder son murmured against his father and challenged his merciful behavior. The Prodigal came home in guilty remorse saying, "I am not worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants," and the elder son’s attitude shouted, "That’s right, he’s not worthy!" implying that he, the elder son, was worthy. These are the flies in the ointment of their understanding that Jesus came to destroy. The lie of the Prodigal son’s guilty conscience and the deceit of the elder son’s selfrighteousness both seek to convince us that though we are children of God we are unworthy of his love. Unfortunately, neither the Pharisees and scribes, nor the two sons understood that the Father does not receive us based on our worthiness. Rather, having been made worthy through the merits of Christ we can be assured of the Father’s mercy and grace because—"This man receives sinners and eats with them."

During Lent we must stop listening to the voices of condemnation and hear the voice of invitation to "Come, eat and commune with me." We must repent of viewing the Eucharist as a fast food meal and recognize that Jesus wants to daily feed us with himself through communion with him around his Word. As Jesus told Mary and Martha at another meal in Luke, sitting at his feet and feasting on his words is choosing the "better part" and the necessary thing.

And so we should, for—"This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Reflections:

· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you and what inner message of the heart is the Spirit whispering to you?
. In spite of sin, God continually calls us back. How? God leads us back to himself and to the Church through his grace. This movement is called repentance or conversion; it consists of sorrow for past sins committed and a firm promise not to sin in the future. (1489, 1490) There are two types of repentance:If repentance is based upon a love for God, it is called "perfect contrition"; such contrition forgives mortal sins if the intention to receive the sacrament of reconciliation (as soon as reasonably possible) is present. (1492, 1459) If repentance is based upon other reasons (fear or guilt), it is called "imperfect contrition." (1492)

----How have you celebrated conversion this Lent? How have you encouraged those around you to do the same?

. The story of the Prodigal Son was as much a story of transition as it was of second chances. Let us remember that second chances are invitations to transition; let us consider the importance of celebrating second chances. Christianity is a lifelong celebration of second chances, not a presumption of God's mercy. That is why we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a chance the wipe the spiritual slate clean, a chance to start anew as a child of the Father.

----How long has it been since you received the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Make plans to celebrate the sacrament this week.

.Which son best illustrates your journey?
.How do you, who are Catholic Christians, avoid embracing and communicating an attitude similar to that of the elder brother?
.What does this passage teach you about our Heavenly Father? About Reconciliation?
.Seeing how the lost son found the way out for his own life, when facing an undesired situation how can you be present to your own mistake,so you can clearly see yourself in your relationship with God and others? What are you to do, to put your life back to where it belongs so you no longer have to struggle?
.The father in this parable took his son back as if nothing had been wrong with him. Can you think of many situations in which you made someone wrong for what he or she did and then refused your love for him or her?
.Like the elder son, you might have judged and blamed others including God, as if they were responsible for how you feel about yourself. How do you take ownership of, and become responsible for your life?

Prayer

Lord, may I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful