Daily Readings - Sat Mar 11 2023
Micah
14With your rod, pasture your people, the flock of your inheritance, living alone in the narrow forest, in the midst of Carmel. They will graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the ancient days15As in the days of your departure from the land of Egypt, I will reveal miracles to him18What God is like you, who takes away iniquity and passes over the sin of the remnant of your inheritance? No longer will he send forth his fury, because he is willing to be merciful19He will turn back and have mercy on us. He will put away our iniquities, and he will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea20You will give the truth to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, which you swore to our fathers from the ancient days
Luke
1Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him2And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This one accepts sinners and eats with them.3And he told this parable to them, saying11And he said: "A certain man had two sons12And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them13And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury14And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need15And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine16And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him17And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine18I shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you19I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.20And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him21And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.22But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet23And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast24For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast25But his elder son was in the field. And when he returned and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing26And he called one of the servants, and he questioned him as to what these things meant27And he said to him: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safely.28Then he became indignant, and he was unwilling to enter. Therefore, his father, going out, began to plead with him29And in response, he said to his father: ‘Behold, I have been serving you for so many years. And I have never transgressed your commandment. And yet, you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might feast with my friends30Yet after this son of yours returned, who has devoured his substance with loose women, you have killed the fatted calf for him.31But he said to him: ‘Son, you are with me always, and all that I have is yours32But it was necessary to feast and to rejoice. For this brother of yours was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the boundless mercy and compassion of God. In the first reading from Micah, we hear a beautiful expression of trust in God’s faithfulness. The prophet describes God as a shepherd who guides His people with care, even in times of difficulty. He reminds us that God’s mercy is not limited by our failures but is instead a constant source of hope and renewal. The passage concludes with a promise: God will cast our sins into the depths of the sea, a powerful image of forgiveness and new beginnings.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the Prodigal Son, a story that has become a cornerstone of Christian teaching on mercy. The younger son, who squanders his inheritance and hits rock bottom, decides to return to his father, expecting only to be treated as a servant. Instead, he is met with overwhelming love and generosity. The father’s reaction—running to embrace his son, clothing him in the best robe, and celebrating his return—reveals the heart of God. The elder son’s resentment, on the other hand, reminds us that receiving mercy can sometimes be as challenging as offering it. The parable ends with an invitation to rejoice in the restoration of what was lost, a theme that ties back to Micah’s promise of God’s enduring faithfulness.
These readings remind us that God’s mercy is not something we earn but something we receive with humility and gratitude. In our daily lives, we are called to approach God with the same trust as the Prodigal Son, knowing that no sin or failure can separate us from His love. At the same time, we are challenged to extend that same mercy to others, just as the father in the parable did. Let us ask ourselves: Where do we need to receive God’s mercy more fully? And where can we be instruments of His mercy to those around us? The Good News is clear: God’s compassion is infinite, and His forgiveness is always available. Let us live in the freedom and joy of being His beloved children.