Saturday, March 23, 2019 2nd Week of Lent 1st
Reading: Mic 7:14-15, 18-20 Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say. But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering. “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus told them this parable: “There was a man with two sons. The younger said to his father: ‘Give me my share of the estate.’ So the father divided his property between them.
Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth in loose living. Having spent everything, he was hard pressed when a severe famine broke out in that land. Finally coming to his senses… he set off for his father’s house.
“He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. … And the celebration began… The elder son became angry …The father said: ‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.’”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
The disposition of the Father in today’s Gospel parable mirrors the highest form of love. Without setting any condition, he restored the dignity of the prodigal son. This he ritualized by the giving sandals and ring to his wayward son.
The elder brother’s attitude mirrors that of a self-righteous person who never sins but refuses to enter into intimate relationship with God. Righteousness can sometimes make us bloodthirsty. We seek the destruction of people we consider sinners and consider it unfair to give them chances. Because of this we miss the celebration each time a sinner returns to the fold.
The prodigal son’s disposition mirrors contrition. He was a sinner who hit bottom but was eventually saved. His contrition was imperfect because he was not motivated at all by love when he decided to return home. He was just hungry and missed the abundance at his father’s house. But what was lacking in his contrition was supplied by the Father’s love.
Of the three characters presented our lives approximates the life of the Prodigal Son. Perfect contrition means being sorry for sins because God deserves all our love. Ours is imperfect most of the time because fear of the loss of heaven and the pains of hell predominates our motivation to repent. But God is willing to take us where we are and elevate us to where our contrite hearts want to be. —(Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M
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