LECTIONARY READINGS
First reading: Joshua 5:9-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33(34):2-7
Second reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Link to readings
On this Laetare (‘Rejoice!’) Sunday at the mid-point of Lent, our liturgy centres on the boundless forgiveness of our loving God. We may choose to turn away from his love, but God forever turns towards us, longing to embrace us with compassion and rejoicing when we come back to him.
In the First Reading God tells Joshua that he has taken away the shame of the people of Israel: their years in exile eating manna in the desert are over. From now on, they eat from the bounty of the land. The generosity of God’s goodness and forgiveness is proclaimed throughout the Psalm. God comes to us in our need and distress, desiring us to put aside our shame and be radiant with his transforming love. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians continues this feast of forgiveness. We are reconciled to God through Christ and in him we are a new creation, liberated from our sins. (Second Reading)
Finally, the beautiful parable that Jesus shares in today’s Gospel sums up the whole message of the Good News and the promise of reconciliation. This reconciliation is made complete through the events of Holy Week and Easter that we will soon celebrate.
In this Jubilee Year, we pray as Pilgrims of Hope, made new in Christ. This week, we pray for all those in the world who are unable to secure enough food to eat from their land as a result of a changing climate. May we be moved with compassion to take whatever practical steps we can to alleviate their food poverty.
PSALM 33 (34)
R. Taste and see that the Lord is good
I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued them from all their distress.
REFLECTION
With confidence that I am ‘a new creation in Christ’ (today’s Second Reading), I prepare myself for prayer. Perhaps I take a couple of gentle, stilling, deep breaths, imagining that I breathe in the love of God with every breath that I take. As best I can, I then let go of any distractions as I breathe out.
When I am ready to pray, I ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit during this time. I read through the psalm with care and devotion. I read it again and again, until I am familiar with the words, images, and feelings that it stirs within me.
Like the psalmist, I look towards the Lord with radiance. I review the last few days, and tenderly recall the times I have noticed God’s goodness in my life. Maybe I have witnessed God’s goodness in the compassionate actions of others, or perhaps in the beauty of a new spring day? Maybe I have felt a great burden lifted?
If it has been a challenging week for me, and I have ignored God’s presence, or not found time to put myself within that presence, I express my sorrow . . . knowing that I am already forgiven. Finally I imagine praying the Psalm with Jesus. I share with Jesus all that I am grateful for, and together we say, Our Father . . .
GOSPEL
Luke 15: 1–3, 11–32 (abbreviated)
The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them’. So Jesus told them this parable: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me”. And he divided his property between them. The younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country and he began to be in need. So he hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him 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 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. But the father said to his servants, “Bring the best robe and put it on him, 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.’
REFLECTION
Once I have stilled myself to pray, I read this beautiful Gospel text slowly, prayerfully, and as many times as I need to. I imagine Jesus desiring to spend time with me. We sit together; perhaps we even share a meal. As I picture Jesus delighting to be in my presence, how does this make me feel?
Then I hear Jesus sharing this parable with me. Why does Jesus want me to hear this message? I look back over my life, and recall the times that I have acted like the prodigal child. Perhaps that has been in decisions I have made, or in how I have related to others . . . towards God . . . or even towards myself.
If there are things for which I seek forgiveness, I do so now, and imagine turning back towards God. Now I see God the Father running towards me, embracing me and showering me with kindness. I savour this moment. When I am ready, I close my prayer with words of love and gratitude.
Courtesy of St Beuno’s Outreach in the Diocese of Wrexham, UK