Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 3-22-03

Reading I
Mi 7:14-15, 18-20

Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland,
in the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old;
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt
and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us,
treading underfoot our guilt?
You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

R (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R The Lord is kind and merciful.

Gospel
Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
"A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.'
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father's hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.'
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.'
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.'
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'"

From: Luke 15:1-3; 11-32

Parables of God's Mercy

[1] Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear
Him (Jesus). [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying,
"This man receives sinners and eats with them."

The Prodigal Son

[3] So He told them this parable: [11] "There was a man who had two
sons; [12] and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me
the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living
between them. [13] Not many days later, the younger son gathered all
he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered
his property in loose living. [14] And when he had spent everything, a
great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. [15]
So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country,
who sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would gladly
have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.
[17] But when he came to himself he said, `How can many of my father's
hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with
hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him,
"Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you; [19] I am no
longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired
servants.'" [20] And he arose and came to his father. But while he
was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran
and embraced him and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him,
`Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you; I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.' [22] But 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; [23] and bring the fatted calf
and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; [24] for this my son was
dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began
to make merry.

[25] "Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near
to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he called one of
the servants and asked what this meant. [27] And he said to him, `Your
brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because
he has received him safe and sound.' [28] But he was angry and refused
to go in. His father came out and entreated him, [29] but he answered
his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never
disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make
merry with my friends. [30] But when this son of yours came, who has
devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted
calf!' [31] And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all
that is mine is yours. [32] It was fitting to make merry and be glad,
for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is
found.'"

Commentary:

1-32. Jesus' actions manifest God's mercy: He receives sinners in order
to convert them. The scribes and Pharisees, who despised sinners, just
cannot understand why Jesus acts like this; they grumble about Him; and
Jesus uses the opportunity to tell these Mercy parables. "The Gospel
writer who particularly treats of these themes in Christ's teaching is
Luke, whose Gospel has earned the title of `the Gospel of mercy'"
([Pope] John Paul II, "Dives In Misericordia", 3).

In this chapter St. Luke reports three of these parables in which Jesus
describes the infinite, fatherly mercy of God and His joy at the
conversion of the sinner.

The Gospel teaches that no one is excluded from forgiveness and that
sinners can become beloved children of God if they repent and are
converted. So much does God desire the conversion of sinners that each
of these parables ends with a refrain, as it were, telling of the great
joy in Heaven over a sinner who repents.

1-2. This is not the first time that publicans and sinners approach
Jesus (cf. Matthew 9:10). They are attracted by the directness of the
Lord's preaching and by His call to self-giving and love. The
Pharisees in general were jealous of His influence over the people
(cf. Matthew 26:2-5; John 11:47) a jealousy which can also beset
Christians; a severity of outlook which does not accept that, no
matter how great his sins may have been, a sinner can change and become
a saint; a blindness which prevents a person from recognizing and
rejoicing over the good done by others. Our Lord criticized this
attitude when He replied to His disciples' complaints about others
casting out devils in His name: "Do not forbid him; for no one who does
a mighty work in My name will be able soon after to speak evil of Me"
(Mark 9:39). And St. Paul rejoiced that others proclaimed Christ and
even overlooked the fact they did so out of self-interest, provided
Christ was preached (cf. Philippians 1:17-18).

11. This is one of Jesus' most beautiful parables, which teaches us
once more that God is a kind and understanding Father (cf. Matthew 6:8;
Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 1:3). The son who asks for his part of the
inheritance is a symbol of the person who cuts himself off from God
through sin. "Although the word `mercy' does not appear, this parable
nevertheless expresses the essence of the divine mercy in a
particularly clear way" ([Pope] John Paul II, "Dives In Misericordia",
5).

12. "That son, who receives from the father the portion of the
inheritance that is due him and leaves home to squander it in a far
country `in loose living', in a certain sense is the man of every
period, beginning with the one who was the first to lose the
inheritance of grace and original justice. The analogy at this point
is very wide-ranging. The parable indirectly touches upon every breach
of the covenant of love, every loss of grace, every sin" ("Dives In
Misericordia", 5).

14-15. At this point in the parable we are shown the unhappy effects of
sin. The young man's hunger evokes the anxiety and emptiness a person
feels when he is far from God. The prodigal son's predicament
describes the enslavement which sin involves (cf. Romans 1:25; 6:6;
Galatians 5:1): by sinning one loses the freedom of the children of God
(cf. Romans 8:21; Galatians 4:31; 5:13) and hands oneself over the
power of Satan.

17-21. His memory of home and his conviction that his father loves him
cause the prodigal son to reflect and to decide to set out on the right
road. "Human life is in some way a constant returning to our Father's
house. We return through contrition, through the conversion of heart
which means a desire to change, a firm decision to improve our life and
which, therefore, is expressed in sacrifice and self-giving. We return
to our Father's house by means of that sacrament of pardon in which, by
confessing our sins, we put on Jesus Christ again and become His
brothers, members of God's family" (St J. Escriva, "Christ is Passing By", 64).

20-24. God always hopes for the return of the sinner; He wants him to
repent. When the young man arrives home his father does not greet him
with reproaches but with immense compassion, which causes him to
embrace his son and cover him with kisses.

20. "There is no doubt that in this simple but penetrating analogy the
figure of the father reveals to us God as Father. The conduct of the
father in the parable and his whole behavior, which manifests his
internal attitude, enables us to rediscover the individual threads of
the Old Testament vision of mercy in a synthesis which is totally new,
full of simplicity and depth. The father of the prodigal son is
FAITHFUL TO THIS FATHERHOOD, FAITHFUL TO THE LOVE that he had always
lavished on his son. This fidelity is expressed in the parable not
only by his immediate readiness to welcome him home when he returns
after having squandered his inheritance; it is expressed even more
fully by that joy, that merrymaking for the squanderer after his
return, merrymaking which is so generous that it provokes the
opposition and hatred of the elder brother, who had never gone far away
from his father and had never abandoned the home.

"The father's fidelity to himself [...] is at the same time expressed
in a manner particularly charged with affection. We read, in fact,
that when the father saw the prodigal son returning home `he had
COMPASSION, ran to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed
him.' He certainly does this under the influence of a deep affection,
and this also explains his generosity towards his son, that generosity
which so angers the elder son" ("Dives In Misericordia", 6).

"When God runs towards us, we cannot keep silent, but with St. Paul we
exclaim, "ABBA PATER": `Father, my Father!' (Romans 8:15), for, though
He is the creator of the universe, He doesn't mind our not using
high-sounding titles, nor worry about our not acknowledging His
greatness. He wants us to call Him Father; He wants us to savor that
word, our souls filling with joy [...].

"God is waiting for us, like the father in the parable, with open arms,
even though we don't deserve it. It doesn't matter how great our debt
is. Just like the prodigal son, all we have to do is open our heart,
to be homesick for our Father's house, to wonder at and rejoice in the
gift which God makes us of being able to call ourselves His children,
of really being His children, even though our response to Him has been
so poor" (St J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 64).

25-30. God's mercy is so great that man cannot grasp it: as we can see
in the case of the elder son, who thinks his father loves the younger
son excessively, his jealousy prevents him from understanding how his
father can do so much to celebrate the recovery of the prodigal; it
cuts him off from the joy that the whole family feels. "It's true that
he was a sinner. But don't pass so final a judgment on him. Have pity
in your heart, and don't forget that he may yet be an Augustine, while
you remain just another mediocrity" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 675).

We should also consider that if God has compassion towards sinners, He
must have much much more towards those who strive to be faithful to
Him. St. Therese of Lisieux understood this very well: "What joy to
remember that our Lord is just; that He makes allowances for all our
shortcomings, and knows full well how weak we are. What have I to fear
then? Surely the God of infinite justice who pardons the prodigal son
with such mercy will be just with me `who am always with Him'?" ("The
Story of a Soul", Chapter 8).

32. "Mercy, as Christ has presented it in the parable of the prodigal
son, has THE INTERIOR FORM OF THE LOVE that in the New Testament is
called AGAPE. This love is able to reach down to every prodigal son,
to every human misery, and above all to every form of moral misery, to
sin. When this happens, the person who is the object of mercy does not
feel humiliated, but rather found again and `restored to value'. The
father first and foremost expresses to him his joy, that he has been
`found again' and that he has `returned to life'. This joy indicates a
good that has remained intact: even if he is a prodigal, a son does not
cease to be truly his father's son; it also indicates a good that has
been found again, which in the case of the prodigal son was his return
to the truth about himself" ("Dives In Misericordia", 6).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Lea was a widow who lived in fourth century Rome and died
around the year 384. After the death of her husband, she retired from
the world to a monastery and eventually became superior of the
community there. Much of the information available concerning the
life of St. Lea, who has long been honored in the Roman
Martyrology, comes from a letter from St. Jerome to Marcella which
compares Lea's life to that of the Counsul Praetextaus. An excerpt of
this letter, the twentieth epistle of St. Jerome is found below.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Who will praise the blessed Lea as she deserves? She renounced
painting her face and adorning her head with shining pearls. She
exchanged her rich attire for sackcloth and ceased to command
others in order to obey all. She dwelt in a corner with a few bits of
furniture; she spent her nights in prayer and instructed her
companions through her example rather than through protests and
speeches. And she looked forward to her arrival in heaven in order to
receive her recompense for the virtues which she practiced on earth.

"So it is that thenceforth she enjoyed perfect happiness. From
Abraham's bosom, where she resides with Lazarus, she sees our
consul who was once decked out in purple now vested in a shameful
robe, vainly begging for a drop of water to quench his thirst. Although
he went up to the capital to the plaudits of the people, and his death
occasioned widespread grief, it is futile for the wife to assert that he
has gone to heaven and possesses a great mansion there. The fact
is that he is plunged into the darkness outside Whereas Lea who
was willing to be considered a fool on earth has been received into
the house of the Father, at the wedding feast of the Lamb.

"Hence, I tearfully beg you to refrain from seeking the favors of the
world and to renounce all that is carnal. It is impossible to follow both
the world and Jesus. Let us live a life of renunciation, for our bodies
will soon be dust and nothing else will last any longer." -St. Jerome

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TODAY IN HISTORY

752 Pope Stephen begins his reign

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TODAY'S TIDBIT

Easter duty is a serious obligation binding Roman Catholics to
receive the Eucharist during the Easter season. In the United States,
worthy reception of the Eucharist anytime from the first Sunday of
Lent to and including Trinity Sunday satisfies this obligation.

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INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for Divine guidance for all the leaders of the world.

The Word Among Us

Saturday, March 22, 2003

Meditation
Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Take this familiar parable of the prodigal son and imagine yourself as a character in the story—perhaps a servant in the household. You are nearby when the boy asks his father for his share of the inheritance so he can leave home. You are surprised, even scandalized, that he would treat his father with such disregard. The image of their parting remains in your heart for a long time.

Months later, you are with your master when he sees his son in the distance and runs out to embrace him. Even though the boy’s clothes are tattered and he reeks of barnyard animals, the father weeps with joy as he holds him close. You hear the boy confess that he no longer deserves to be called a son. He suggests that his father treat him as one of the hired men. Do you think to yourself, “This fellow doesn’t even deserve to be treated as well as I am treated”? Or are you relieved that he’s safe at home?

Try to picture the joy and relief on the father’s face. He is so happy that he immediately calls for a party. As he leads his son inside, he tells you to prepare a bath for the boy and get him fresh clothes. Do you think you would smile at the son as willingly as your master did? When you go outside to dump the dirty water, you meet the elder son. He is upset when he hears about his brother’s return and the party in his honor. You understand his anger, but you are beginning to understand the father’s forgiveness. You slip inside and whisper to the father that his other son is upset. The father immediately goes outside to embrace his elder son. Can you see the love on the father’s face? How does this last scene touch you? Does it melt your heart?

We all pierce our Father’s heart when we turn away from him as the prodigal son did. The question to ask is whether we tell the Father that we are unforgivable. Or do we let him embrace us with his mercy?

“Father in heaven, thank you for your unconditional love and your everlasting forgiveness. Help me to run to you and fall into your loving embrace every day.”

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