24th Sunday in Ordinary time
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son." Luke 15:21
Intro: God searches unceasingly for those who are lost; He never gives up on us. We see this in Jesus, who welcomed sinners and actually ate with them. But of course, that was a fault! That's the theme of today's readings ... but it's also what's about to happen at our Mass today!
Readings: The Chosen People offended God by their worship of a golden calf. Despite their unfaithfulness, God hears Moses' plea, relents, and refrains from punishing them as they really deserve.
Paul tells Timothy how he himself is a sign of God's mercy, who had once been a great sinner who blasphemed God, and persecuted the early Christians. In spite of this, even he finds mercy and forgiveness.
Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14;
1 Timothy 1: 12-17;
Luke 15: 1-32;
If you're used to reading bedtime stories, you'll be well aware that as the stories become more familiar, you're reminded by your tiny listener whenever you miss out a line, or even a word!
In the same way, Jesus used stories to teach, and some of them have become so familiar that they've lost some of their impact and we take them for granted.
Having been criticised for welcoming sinners, and eating in their company, Jesus responds with three stories where something is lost. The first, about a lost sheep, reminds us that God cares about individuals - the ninety nine are left in a place of safety so that the one stray can be found and brought safely home.
The second image - the woman searching for her mislaid coin - reveals the extent of God's longing that no one should be lost; the woman stops at nothing, putting incredible energy into finding the missing money.
Finally, Jesus tells the story of the lost son - the arrogant young man who rejects all that his father had provided for him in order to do things his own way. He treats his father abominably in order to get his hands on his future inheritance before his father's death, and it's only when he's completely and utterly lost and at his wits’ ends that he remembers how different things were at home. What happens? When he comes to his senses and makes his way back, the father, without any thought about his own dignity, runs down the road, greets his wayward son, gives him new clothes, a ring on his finger and the promise of a party.
Contrast that with the mean and selfish behaviour of the elder son, who’s green-eyed with jealousy - perhaps not without reason! - but that's the big difference between us and God. It's a tale of complete forgiveness and we’re all tempted to think that surely even God’s forgiveness can’t - or shouldn't - work Iike that. Surely the repentant sinner has to do a lot of penance and earn forgiveness. But if we think like that, we become just like the elder son who's certainly not in a forgiving mood.
In our own time, good people sometimes find it hard to forgive, hard to imagine God really and truly completely forgiving people who have lived very irregular lives. And aren't the press and media very good at being virtuously unforgiving, whether it’s Prince Andrew, Boris, or anyone else? It's easy to look at the damage the sinner has done, and wait for him or her to do the equivalent amount of good to prove his or her sorrow. If you feel like that, perhaps you should just close your eyes, and think of how you've been welcomed back at some time.
In each of these stories, Jesus reveals His Father's longing for those who are lost, who have sinned, to come back home. God searches for us more intensely than any shepherd for his sheep, or a woman for a lost coin or a lost son; and He won't rest until we're back where we belong - in His family and close to His heart.
Allowing ourselves to come back to God probably won't be a one-off event in our lives, but rather a lifelong process. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we have a wonderful way of making these three parables come to life. Each time we go to confession, the shepherd lifts us back on to His shoulders, and takes us back into the fold. Maybe today's stories will encourage us to seek the peace and joy of sacramental confession and reconciliation. If there's going to be joy among the angels in Heaven over one repentant sinner ... then perhaps you should be the first to give them something to sing about!
Intercessions
The Father is always ready to listen to our prayers, both for ourselves or for our world. And so we approach Him with confidence to pray:-
1. For the Church, us, Your holy people, its very human and fragile members. May we bear witness to Your compassion, and offer the same healing to all whom we meet - Lord, hear us.
2. For our world. May the divisions and conflicts which divide us give way to reconciliation and peace - Lord, hear us.
3. For those who are afraid to repent, come to confession and seek certain forgiveness. May Your Son's story of the prodigal son encourage them to overcome their fears, and face You with confidence, knowing that they will be totally forgiven - Lord, hear us
4. For those who have been hurt, or still carrying unforgiveness in their hearts, who have lost faith in You and humanity. Give them the strength to overcome that hurt, and learn to forgive as they are forgiven - Lord, hear us.
5. For Tom Morrison, John Miller, John Bermingham and John Casey who now rest in Your peace. And for those whose anniversaries we call to mind: James Donnelly, Stephen Lennie, Patrick McGeeney, Dennis Jackson, Gerard a McGeeney, Mark Conlon, Jack & Agnes Anderson. May they receive the reward of a life well lived - Lord, hear us.
God our Father, Who forgive all who turn to You, hear these prayers which we make in humble faith.