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Sunday Scripture Study

Scriiptture Sttudy

Fourth Sunday of Lent – Cycle C

Opening prayer

Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 (Ps 34:2-7) 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Overview of the Gospel:

Today’s Gospel, the parable of the prodigal son, is one of three parables (see verses 4-10) that Jesus addresses to the Pharisees who challenged him for associating w ith “tax collectors and sinners” who flocked to hear Jesus’ words (verses 1-2).

The Pharisees were a religious party of Jesus’ day who prided themselves on strictly keeping to the prescriptions of the Jewish purity laws. Many of them were undoubtedly holy men, and they were generally respected by the people for their holiness and their refusal to cooperate with the occupying Romans. Some Pharisees, however, became legalistic and judgmental in their attitude toward those who did not meet their standards. These set themselves up in opposition to Jesus and his followers. They may also have been jealous when the despised tax collectors and sinners were drawn to Jesus and his gospel of mercy.

This Sunday’s parable can more accurately called the parable of the forgiving father, since he is can be seen as the main figure in the story. Just as God the father is always ready to let us exercise our free will and go our own ways, in his mercy and compassion he is more than ready to be on the lookout for the least sign of our returning in repentance to him, and welcoming us home. As Jesus teaches earlier in this chapter, “there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7,11).

Questions:

What stages does the younger son go through on his pilgrimage (verses 13-16)? What brings him to his senses? What does he realize then? With what sort of attitude does he approach his father? How does the father receive his son? Why?

How does the older brother feel about the younger brother’s return? Why? How does the father answer the older brother’s objections (verse 29)?

What’s Jesus’ point with this parable? What does this story teach about sin, repentance and God’s love? What does the First Reading tell us about God’s care for us and his solicitude to carry us through trials and temptations to the end?

Comparing yourself to the two brothers in this parable, who are you most like? Why? How have you experienced God as similar to this father?  Consider verse 31: What does God have to give you that you have not taken?

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 1439, 545, 1443, 2839, 2795

Closing prayer

I'm certain of this - that if my conscience were burdened with all the sins it's possible to commit, I would still go and throw myself into our Lord's arms, my heart all broken up with contrition; I know what tenderness He has for any prodigal child of His that comes back to Him. –St. Therese of Lisieux


39 posted on 03/10/2013 5:43:25 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
We Are God’s Building
Pastor’s Column
4th Sunday of Lent
 March 10, 2013
 
“You are God’s building….but each man must be careful how he builds, for no man can lay a foundation other than the one that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”   1 Corinthians 3:9,11
 
          For the last couple of weeks while I was sick, I watched from the rectory as careful site work has taken place to prepare for our new church – almost 250 stabilizers deep into the earth for earthquake protection. Now that this phase is finished, we can no longer see this work, but it remains below ground, quietly protecting all that will follow. This was necessary because the Willamette River once flowed below our land (which means lots of sand), so extra precautions must be taken.
 
          Every phase of our parish construction is in reality a spiritual journey, so what can we learn from this? First, we had to realize that extra precautions had to be taken with the site. In the same way, unless we allow the Holy Spirit to help us know ourselves we will be unable to clearly see what sorts of building projects our soul needs to prosper. Examining your life on a regular basis will clarify the most pressing needs in your own personal building project, which you and the Holy Spirit, your personal project manager, are working on together.
 
          As if to remind us of the great need we have of a new building here at Saint Eds, our handyman was up on the roof of our current building this week, when, unbeknownst to him, he reached a spot that is so decayed and full of wood rot that the roof almost caved in when he stepped on it and almost sent him plunging through! What looked so safe on the outside was actually quite rotten on the inside, like cancer. We are grateful that he is safe and that God sent us this reminder of why we have undertaken this challenging project!
         
          This week the actual outline of the new sanctuary is taking shape right before our eyes, which is both fascinating and exciting. Yet as needed as this church is, the real “church building project” is taking place in a more hidden way: in our hearts! Long after this current structure we are putting in place has turned to dust, God has all the while been constructing edifices that will last forever, that is, the temples not made by human hands: our souls.
 
          Why not invite the Holy Spirit to be your personal construction manager this year? What are the “internal stabilizers” of our personal project? The Spirit will guide us, through the church, through the scriptures, through confession, through our conscience, through others, through our life experiences to build exactly what we need to glorify God, if we are listening. If we are willing to let the Spirit act in this way, he will always work on our behalf and counteract the “sand,” that is, the sins that threaten our spiritual lives.
 
                                                                                                Father Gary

40 posted on 03/10/2013 5:54:38 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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