Daily Readings - Sun Mar 30 2025

⁹And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have taken away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And the name of that place was called Gilgal, even to the present day¹⁰And the sons of Israel stayed at Gilgal, and they kept the Passover, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, in the plains of Jericho¹¹And on the following day, they ate unleavened bread from the grain of the land, and cooked grain, of the same year¹²And the manna ceased after they ate from the grain of the land. And the sons of Israel no longer made use of that food. Instead, they ate from the grain of the present year, from the land of Canaan

2 Corinthians

Chapter 5

¹⁷So if anyone is a new creature in Christ, what is old has passed away. Behold, all things have been made new¹⁸But all is of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation¹⁹For certainly God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not charging them with their sins. And he has placed in us the Word of reconciliation²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, so that God is exhorting through us. We beseech you for Christ: be reconciled to God²¹For God made him who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the justice of God in him

Luke

Chapter 15

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

In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives of transformation and divine mercy. The first reading from Joshua marks a pivotal moment for the Israelites as they transition from the wilderness, sustained by manna, to the Promised Land, where they now eat its produce. This shift symbolizes a new chapter in their relationship with God, moving from reliance on miraculous provision to trusting in His promise fulfilled. The second reading from 2 Corinthians deepens this theme of new beginnings. Paul emphasizes that in Christ, we are made new, and we are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. This is not just a personal transformation but a call to be ambassadors of God's grace, urging others to embrace His mercy. The Gospel parable of the Prodigal Son vividly illustrates this mercy. The father's joy in welcoming back his wayward son, despite his past, reflects God's boundless forgiveness. The elder son's resentment reminds us that reconciliation requires humility and understanding. The father's reassurance to the elder son underscores that God's love is not divided but abundantly available to all. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to seek forgiveness and to extend mercy to others. Just as the Israelites entered a new land and we are made new in Christ, we are called to embrace each day as an opportunity for renewal. Let us approach life with the humility of the prodigal son and the generosity of the forgiving father, trusting in God's endless mercy and living as reconciled people.