Friday, March 17, 2017
SATURDAY, 2nd Week of Lent
March 18, 2017 – SATURDAY, 2nd Week of Lent
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Violet
Mi 7:14-15, 18- 20 / Lk 15: 1 - 3, 11 – 32
St. Cyril of Alexandria (315 - 386), Bishop of Jerusalem, was exiled three times by Arian heretics.
1ST READING: Mi 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.
GOSPEL READING: Lk 15, 1- 3, 11 - 32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
REFLECTION
The image of the shepherd and his flock is very common during the time of Christ and of the writers of the Old Testament. The shepherd directs and protects his flock of sheep. Clearly this is a perfect image of God and his chosen people and of Christ and of those he had come to save.
The first reading tells about the God of Israel shepherding Israel, his chosen and covenanted people. God watches over and takes care of Israel in the same way a shepherd leads his flock to water and green pastures and protects them from marauding animals.
The reading speaks about how God is a forgiving and merciful God, "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."
The Gospel reading is the parable of the Prodigal Son or of the Merciful Father: how, even after the prodigal son had squandered his inheritance with loose living, his father welcomes him with great joy, "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."
As we celebrated the Extraordinary Year of Mercy last year, we glorify our God of mercy and loving kindness. And we pray we too would be men and women of similar mercy and kindness.
We recall what Jesus told Peter when asked, "Then Peter asked him, 'Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?" Jesus answered, "No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Mt 18: 21 - 22)
Daily we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
CHRISTINE L. CUYEGKENG
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
GREGORIO & SUZANNE KAW
ROSALIND & ERWIN TYTAN
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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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 8:41 AM 
