Daily Readings - Sat Mar 03 2018
First Reading - Micah 7.14-15, 18-20
Micah
Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Gospel - Luke 15.1-3, 11-32
Luke
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.And he spake this parable unto them, saying,And he said, A certain man had two sons:And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of mercy, forgiveness, and the boundless love of God. The first reading from Micah offers a message of hope and redemption, spoken to a people in distress. Micah describes God as a shepherd who guides His people with care, promising to cast their sins into the depths of the sea. This passage emphasizes God’s faithfulness and willingness to forgive, highlighting His role as a merciful shepherd who restores His people.
The Gospel parable of the Prodigal Son, from Luke, beautifully illustrates this divine mercy. Jesus teaches that God’s love is not confined to the faithful but extends to those who have wandered away. The younger son’s return is met with open arms, celebrating his restoration. Meanwhile, the older son’s resentment reminds us of the human struggle to understand God’s generosity towards others. This parable, fulfilling Micah’s prophecy, shows Jesus embodying the Father’s mercy, welcoming the lost with joy.
In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this mercy—both receiving it and extending it to others. Just as the father in the parable, God’s love is not limited to the deserving but is available to all. Let us reflect on our own experiences of God’s forgiveness and strive to be instruments of His mercy. In doing so, we live out the forgiveness we’ve received, becoming beacons of God’s love in a world that deeply needs it.