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Saturday, March 30, 2019

4th Sunday of Lent (31 March 2019 )


1st Reading – Josh 5:9a,10-12
Psalm -33:2-3,4-5,6-7
2nd reading – 2 Cor 5:17-21
Gospel – Lk 15:1-3,11-32

Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts." The fourth Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday and is a Sunday of joy. The entrance antiphon for the day begins with the Latin word "laetare" and the vestments worn by the celebrant are rose-colored, not violet. This Sunday is also known as "Rose Sunday" for the vestments for this day will be rose, and flowers may adorn the Altar.

The Gospel reading in the Holy Mass today is taken from Luke 15th chapter is about the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son in the parable failing to understand the love of his father didn’t want to be under his guidance and authority. He wanted to be of his own and enjoy the worldly pleasures being away from his father and thus, demanded his share of inheritance.  The father must have felt heartbroken with the attitude of his son because the normal practice was that the inheritance goes to the son only after his father’s death. However, the father being so loving yielded to the demand of his son without questioning. The parable says that he took his share of inheritance and traveled to a distant place and spent his entire inheritance in extravagant living that led him to a miserable situation. In his misery realized his situation and the merciful love of his father. Therefore, with a repented heart and hope took the steps of humility returned home. His father seeing the son returned embraced him and received him with unconditional love and forgiveness ordering for a celebration.

The elder son stayed away because he did not really understand and approve the attitude of his father towards his younger son who squandered all his wealth.  He felt hurt and complained his father for not rewarding his own life long faithfulness and obedience. The father justified the welcoming of his brother and the celebration and gently invited him to join the party.

God gives each one of us a personal invitation to return to him. He is waiting to receive us with unconditional love and forgiveness and to celebrate our return to a new repented life. We need to come to our senses and realize our situation, attachments and addictions, priorities and preferences that keep us away from the love of God and from his presence.  We need to have hope in the mercy of God, humility and courage to leave behind and go to him acknowledging our situation and ask for his forgiving love and mercy. In Jesus God reveals that he welcomes the sinners: We known that the “Pharisees and scribes began to complain, this man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Let us get up and go back to our father in heaven for he welcomes us sinners.






By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF
arulcmf@gmail.com

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