Greeting (See First Reading)

Blessed be God our Father
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and has entrusted to us
the work of reconciliation in this world.
May his pardon and peace be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A. A Father Prodigal with His Love

Can you imagine that, when half-heartedly sorry for the stupidities of your sins, you tell God that you come back to him, he embraces you and prepares a feast for you? It is almost like a hero's welcome! A God prodigal with his love waits for us; the past belongs to the past. Let us join in the feast of forgiveness.

B. A Scandalizing Mercy

Sometimes it is said of good, tolerant people: that's going too far to tolerate this, to forgive such a loss of face. Is there no spunk in him or her? No, we shouldn't be anybody's fool, but when it comes to forgiveness and patience we have still much to learn from God our Father. Has he not kept forgiving us? Has he ever stopped being patient with us? This is what we have to learn from him, however difficult it may be. Let us ask Jesus with us here to give us that strength.

Penitential Act

Why do we still hesitate
to return to the forgiving Father?
             (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you sat at table
with outcasts and sinners:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you forgave
those who nailed you to the cross:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you invite us sinners
to the marriage feast of heaven:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, thank you for your patience
that does not tire of forgiving us.
Let your love change us completely
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to God our Father
that we may experience the joy
of his lasting forgiveness
             (PAUSE)
God with a big heart,
when we have lost our way,
when we seek fake happiness
in the dark land of sin,
you send your Son to search for us
and to bring us back home to you.
Let us feel deeply that you are looking forward
to welcome us with joy
and to restore us in your life and love.
Give us the humble courage to return to you,
our God and Father for ever. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: The Joy of a Homeland
       God had led his people from the land of slavery into their new homeland. They celebrated this homecoming by renewing the covenant with God. Then they had to live as his faithful people.

First Reading: Jos 5:9-12

Yahweh said to Joshua, "Today I have removed from you the shame of Egypt." So the place is called Gilgal up to this day.

The Israelites encamped in Gilgal where they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the following day, they ate of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain on that very day. And from that day on when they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.

There was no more manna for the Israelites, and that year they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Second Reading Introduction: Reconciled and Reconcilers
       God offers us a new world of forgiveness and reconciliation. We have to bring that reconciliation to all.

Second Reading: 2 Cor 5:17:21

The one who is in Christ is a new creature. For him the old things have passed away; a new world has come. All this is the work of God who in Christ reconciled us to himself, and who entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. Because in Christ God reconciled the world with himself, no longer taking into account their trespasses and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

So we present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of Christ, as if God himself makes an appeal to you through us. Let God reconcile you; this we ask you in the name of Christ. He had no sin, but God made him bear our sin, so that in him we might share the holiness of God.

Gospel Introduction: Welcome Back Home!
       In the parable of the Father and his two sons, the father welcomes the repentant son back home with joy, but the self-righteous elder son, with the scribes and the Pharisees, refuses forgiveness.

Gospel Reading: Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say. But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering. "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told them this parable:

"There was a man with two sons. The younger said to his father: 'Give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them.
"Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth in loose living. Having spent everything, he was hard pressed when a severe famine broke out in that land. So he hired himself out to a well-to-do citizen of that place and was sent to work on a pig farm. So famished was he that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but no one offered him anything.

"Finally coming to his senses, he said: 'How many of my father's hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of your hired servants.' With that thought in mind he set off for his father's house.

"He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son said: 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son…'

"But the father turned to his servants: 'Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.' And the celebration began.

"Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about. The servant answered: 'Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he has ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf.'

"The elder son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. The indignant son said: 'Look, I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. Then when this son of yours returns after squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened calf for him.'

"The father said: 'My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.'"

 

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