Sinners, You are All Welcome!

First Reading: Joshua 5:9, 10-12

And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. While the people of Israel were encamped in Gilgal they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. And on the morrow after the passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased on the morrow, when they ate of the produce of the land; and the people of Israel had manna no more, but ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Psalm: Psalm 34:2-7

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; 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. 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 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.

         

So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."' 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. 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.' 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; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 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.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 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. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

What if the Lord shuns His door to all sinners and will not give us a chance to repent? Scary isn’t it?

In Luke 6:36-38 Jesus said to the disciples, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

The father in today’s Gospel did this! He showed so much mercy to his son who betrayed him, abandoned him. He did not condemn his son instead prepared a feast for him and most of all – forgiven him. That’s how much God loves us! He is the most merciful and loving God! He loves us unconditionally! He forgives even before we repent! If we truly realize to have a God like that isn’t it automatic for us to repent and be ashamed of our sins just like what the son in this Gospel did to his father? He asked forgiveness and repented from the sins he committed to his father. He realized he was wrong.

This season of Lent is really a great time to reflect on God’s unconditional love for us. It is a time to celebrate life with love and thanksgiving for we have a great GOD! Let us also do the same to others – we must be easy to forgive, not judgmental and condemning. This is also my prayer this Lent that God will give me a loving, gentle, forgiving heart. I am a very critical person. I don’t know but I always notice what is not good in a person. And sometimes I say words that hurt others! And I justify it by saying I just want to be honest about how I feel even without regard for the feelings of others! And so this is my prayer that God will give me a loving and non-judgmental heart. It is not easy but with Christ nothing is impossible. I just surrender to Him all my weaknesses and sinfulness. He always have open arms ready to embrace me!

And the transformation is an ongoing process. I am learning. I am changing. I am just glad that I belong to a community whose target are the “unchurched”. We welcome everybody at The Feast of the Light of Jesus Family! All sinners are welcome! When you experience the love of God there you can’t help but be transformed to the person God wants you to be – loving Christian, trying as much to live like Christ, to live the Gospel of LOVE!

Prayer

Jesus, help me to love anyone as you love me unconditionally. Remind me that the Spirit of love is given to me, as it was to You, and with it I can love truly. May I rest in the prayer of simple presence, abiding with You. May I savour the depth of your intimate love every moment of my life. Thank You for the depth of your undying love. May my faith in this love deepen through these days of Lent. I ask this through Mary's intercession. Amen.