Daily Readings - Sun Mar 31 2019

Joshua

9And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.10While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.11And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.12And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

2 Corinthians

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Luke

1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."3So he told them this parable:11And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.12And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.17"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.21And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'22But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.25"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.27And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,29but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'31And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of renewal, reconciliation, and the boundless love of God. In the first reading from Joshua, we see the Israelites celebrating the Passover in the Promised Land, marking their transition from a life of slavery in Egypt to a life of freedom and covenant with God. This moment signifies not only a geographical change but also a spiritual one, as they leave behind the manna of the wilderness and begin to eat the fruit of the land, symbolizing their new relationship with God. In the second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul emphasizes the transformative power of God’s grace. He writes that in Christ, we are made new, and the old has passed away. This newness is not just a personal transformation but also a call to participate in the ministry of reconciliation. God has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation, and we are called to be ambassadors for Christ, inviting others to return to God. This reading reminds us that our faith is not just about personal salvation but also about being instruments of God’s love and mercy in the world. The Gospel from Luke presents one of the most iconic parables of Jesus, the story of the Prodigal Son. This parable is a profound expression of God’s mercy and love. The younger son, who squanders his inheritance and hits rock bottom, returns home in humility, expecting only to be treated as a servant. Yet, the father’s response is one of unbounded compassion and forgiveness. He runs to meet his son, embraces him, and celebrates his return. This parable teaches us that God’s love is not conditional; it is not based on our worthiness but on His infinite mercy. The elder son’s resentment, on the other hand, reminds us that we must also learn to forgive and rejoice in the goodness of God, even when others receive His mercy. These readings together call us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Are we open to the newness of life that God offers us? Are we willing to let go of the past and embrace the present moment as an opportunity for renewal? The story of the Prodigal Son challenges us to examine our hearts: do we approach God with the humility and trust of the younger son, or do we harbor the resentment of the elder son? In our daily lives, we are called to live as ambassadors of reconciliation, sharing the Good News of God’s love and mercy with others. This means being open to conversion, seeking forgiveness when we fail, and extending forgiveness to those who wrong us. Let us ask ourselves: Where do I need to experience renewal in my life? How can I be an instrument of God’s love and reconciliation in my family, community, and world? The moral lesson of today’s readings is clear: God’s love is always greater than our sin, and His mercy is always available to us. Let us turn to Him with humble hearts, trusting in His boundless love and allowing Him to make us new. As we do so, may we also become bearers of His love and forgiveness to a world in need of reconciliation.