1ST READING - Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
7 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. 8 They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves
a molten calf and worshipping it, sacrificing to it and crying out,
‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ 9 I
see how stiff-necked this people is,” continued the Lord to Moses. 10 “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.” 11 But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying, “Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to
them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’” 14 So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.
P S A L M - Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
R: I will rise and go to my father.
1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your
presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. 17 [19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)
2nd READING - 1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 Beloved:
I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. 13 I
was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have
been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
14 Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This
saying
is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. 16 But
for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the
foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for
those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 17 To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Luke 15:1-32
1 Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them he addressed this parable. 4 “What
man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not
leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until
he finds it? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy 6 and,
upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and
says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I
tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over
one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have
no need of repentance. 8 Or what woman having ten coins and losing
one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 11 Then he said, “A man had two sons, 12 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. 13 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. 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. 17 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. 18 I shall get up and go to my father
and I shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.’ 20 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. 21 His son said
to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 22 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. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. 25
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. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27 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.’ 28 He became angry, and when he refused
to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 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. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 31 He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32 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.’”
| SABBATH | ||
NOT GIVING UP ON THE ONE YOU LOVE
There was a competition among the angels in heaven. They were to look for the
most beautiful thing they could find on earth. So they all went off and
flew down. The first one saw a beautiful flower and picked it. The
second angel went to a house where a
baby was sleeping. Such innocence melted the heart of the angel. The
third angel lost his way and found himself in a beer house where
beautiful ladies were dancing. He was amazed, without a trace of malice,
at the women’s beauty. Finally, the fourth angel went to my former
parish to look for me. He wasn’t lucky enough though. I was not there.
He
proceeded to the church and saw somebody kneeling before the Blessed
Sacrament. He was a most hardened sinner wanting to be reconciled with
the Lord. In deep despair and sorrow for his sins, he cried unabashedly.
The angel, on cue, caught the crystalline tears coming from the eyes of
the repentant sinner. All four angels then brought their “beautiful
discoveries” to heaven for final judging. The fourth angel won the competition, for nothing can be more beautiful than the tears of a repentant sinner.
The Lord who came to cure the sick considers the return of a lost son
as a cause for rejoicing. He never gets tired of looking for wounded
souls.
The father of the prodigal son never lost hope. After his son left and
squandered all his inheritance, he never stopped waiting for his return.
He hoped against hope that one day his son would return home. Because
he was his son whom he loved unconditionally, he never gave up on him,
gave him a new lease in life, and restored him to his dignity as his
son.
God’s love is total and unconditional. He does not postpone His
forgiveness. Even Paul in the Second Reading admits that he “was once a
blasphemer, persecutor and arrogant. But he has mercifully treated me.”
God did not give up on Paul. And as cliché as it may sound, God loves
us. He does not give up on us, lowly sinners. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS
REFLECTION QUESTION: What keeps you from going back to God now? Try Him. He will not turn His back on you.
Lord, in shame, I thank You for bearing with me and loving me unconditionally.
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.
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