Readings
I - Hos. 6: 1-6
II - 2 Cor. 5: 17-21
III - Lk. 15: 1-3, 11-32
REPENT AND RETURN TO THE LORD
The first reading is about the victory and the prosperity of the people of Israel - the chosen ‘people of God’. The second reading is an invitation to be reconciled to the Lord for anyone in Christ is a new creation. The Gospel passage is the blend of the two readings. The Pharisees and the Scribes grumbled when the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to Jesus. Jesus through the parable of the Prodigal son tried to enlighten them on the importance of every child to the father and his happiness in getting them back especially the lost one. The elder son, always with the father signified the scribes and the Pharisees while the younger son signified the sinners and the tax collectors. Like the father in the parable, God too rejoices over the repentance and return of the sinners and the tax collectors who are away from the Father’s love because of their ignorance, sinfulness, fear, guilt and shame. Jesus incites an inclusive connotation to ‘people of God’ - men, women, children, sinners, righteous, tax collectors, rich, poor, great and the least. God waits for the return of the lost, marks them from afar, hopes with patience, runs with great joy when they return and takes them back home with great joy and festivity.
We are into the fourth week of the season of Lent. This grace filled season is an opportunity to reflect, repent and return to the Lord. An opportune time to put on Christ. As ambassadors Christ, it is the time to be reconciled to Christ. May all our prayer, fasting and works of charity help us for a reunion with the Lord. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the grace to repent and return to you”.
