DAILY- HOMILY

MARCH 2, 2013
SATURDAY 2ND WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

Mic 7:14-15,18-20 / Ps 103: 1-2. 3-4. 9-10. 11-12 / Lk 15:1-3,11-32

MICAH 7:14-15,18-20
Shepherd your people with your staff, shepherd the flock of your inheritance that dwells alone in the scrub, in the midst of a fertile land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old, in the days when you went out of Egypt. Show us your wonders. Who is a god like you, who takes away guilt and pardons crime for the remnant of his inheritance? Who is like you whose anger does not last? For you delight in merciful forgiveness. Once again you will show us your loving kindness and trample on our wrongs, casting all our sins into the depths of the sea. Show faithfulness to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.

LUKE 15:1-3,11-32
Meanwhile 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!' he said. `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 approached 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 son, very indignant, 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.'"

REFLECTION
The parable of the prodigal son is a reminder that God constantly waits for us. God always wants us to come back to Him. Not only sin but self-righteousness separates us from God as well. Regardless of what state we are in, we need God's grace to restore us and make us truly belong to Him.

We realize that it's not just a wayward lifestyle that makes us drift away from God, but even if we belong to a prayer community or offer our service to the church, we sometimes drift away from God. Difficult situations can make us harbor feelings of bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness. Overwhelming demands at work preoccupy much of our time. Growing family concerns can drown the spirit. Attacks of despair and hopelessness consume our energy. Amid all these, we lose sight of our God countless time. Yet, God will never let us go far away. God waits for us patiently with much compassion and mercy until, with humble and repentant hearts, we return to Him and freely enjoy His treasures.

UNCONDITIONAL is God's love even if we drift away from Him over and over again. How much have we given or shown this to others as well…to our loved ones, friends, co-workers and neighbors?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the eternal repose of the soul of
- Eliseo Fabella, Sr.
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Asing Seto
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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