HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year C)

Mar 10, 2013

3956

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of Joshua (5: 9a, 10-12)

The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you."

While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month. On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7)

(R) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the Lord at the times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R)

Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R)

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the afflicted man called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Second Latter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (5: 17-21)

Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ, is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

Gospel Acclamation

(R) Alleluia, alleluia!

I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. (R)

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (15: 1-3, 11-32)

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and the 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 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 you 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 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.""

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Once, a priest was visiting a man in the hospital, who had been injured in a fight. The priest said, "Friend, I am going to pray so you will forgive the man who stabbed you with a knife." "It might be better, Father," said the man, "if you waited until I get out of here and then you pray for the other guy."

Forgiveness or reconciliation does not come easy for most of us. Many a time it seems like it is impossible to forgive someone who has hurt us. But the Bible teaches us that our Lord is good and abundant in mercy, and ready to forgive all those who call upon Him. We are entering into the fourth week of Lent as part of our preparation for the celebration of Easter, the feast of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We prepare for it by deeply reflecting upon Jesus' suffering and sacrifice. In other words, during this time, we remember the greatest gift of God to humankind, that is, the reconciliation of humankind with Himself brought about by the sacrifice of His only Son Jesus on the cross. Man's relationship with God was broken when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and fell into sin but it was restored by God's only Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ.

What is the biblical meaning of reconciliation? Reconciliation means the restoration of the broken relationship between the divine and the human. No doubt we all understand what that means. We see the need for reconciliation in our day to day life. Reconciliation is needed between friends, children and parents, spouses, nations, races and religious groups. At the same time we also understand the pain of alienation and separation in broken relationships and the obstacles to reconciliation. In today's second reading we read about Saint Paul imploring the Corinthians to be reconciled with God. He does not mention about the reconciliation between human beings. Why does he say, "Be reconciled with God?" How important is the reconciliation between humankind and God?

Reconciliation between human beings is necessary because we are sinners and no one is perfect. In a dialogue we can acknowledge and confess to one another our guilt and weaknesses, and try to reconcile with one another even though it may not be a true or genuine reconciliation. True reconciliation requires true forgiveness. For instance how many times human beings have shaken hands, signed agreements and exchanged hugs as a sign of reconciliation and yet remind one another of their faults even after many years? It only shows that there was never true forgiveness. But it is even much more difficult for us to grasp how our relationship with God is restored. The scriptures speak of God as Perfect, Holy, and Sinless whereas we are imperfect, sinful, and unholy. We are unworthy to sit before God and ask for reconciliation. And yet God has devised a plan in which, we, sinners can be reconciled with Him. He has designed a grand plan for us to be reconciled with Him. What is the plan? From the time of the fall of Adam and Eve, God's plan was to restore us to what He has created us to be, that is His children, through His Son Jesus' suffering and death. The reconciliation with God our Father is made possible not because of anything we, the children, do or can do or try to do but because of what Jesus has on behalf of us done. The reconciliation with God is just as free as any other gift because the price has been paid for us by Jesus shedding His blood and dying on the Cross for us. The Blood of Jesus, the price for reconciliation is offered to all who believe in Him and want to reconcile with Him.

What takes place in the reconciliation? In today's parable we read that the father who saw his lost son still a long way off, was filled with compassion, ran to him, embraced him and kissed him. He did not even utter the words, "I forgive you." What he did said it all. At that time, all that mattered to him was his son. And so it's the same with God. In our reconciliation with God, God forgives us of our sins and draws us fully into his love. The forgiveness of God and reconciliation with Him lead us to a stronger bond with Him than ever before. For instance, you may have expressed your love for others very many times through greetings and gifts but the offering of forgiveness certainly leads to a stronger bond and more genuine love. The reconciliation with God also leads us to reconcile with other human beings. So it is important that we truly reconcile with God first. The elder son in the parable was angry that his father did not seem to value his many years of obedience and service to him. He perhaps was unhappy from the time the father divided the property and he had to tend to things all by himself after his brother left. Let us not be angry or mad at God. Let us not say that God is unfair to us. Let us not grumble that we have been so faithful to Him but He has not been kind to us. Let us rather reconcile ourselves to God by humbly acknowledging his abundant graces to us despite our unworthiness.

If you have never done it so, then today you have the opportunity to be reconciled with God. Let us follow what one of the criminals on the cross did - Let us courageously go to God and humbly admit our sin against heaven and earth and be reconciled with Him. Let us, like the prodigal son, go to our God the Father's House, acknowledge our unworthiness before Him and be reconciled with Him. Let us constantly renew our relationship with Him. God seeing our efforts to overcome our sinfulness and wickedness, will for certain, instantly receive us, reconcile us and restore us to Himself. He will also make our reconciliation with others genuine, possible and achievable. God, who seeing our faithfulness, obedience and humility would also lead us to reconcile with everyone on earth.

Besides, Saint Paul reminds us that every Christian is called to be an ambassador or minister of reconciliation for Christ. In other words, we do not just reconcile ourselves with God but we must also proclaim the message of reconciliation - to tell and encourage others that they can be reconciled with God as well. Let us tell others that the alienation between them and the living God of the universe can be ended and they can be reconciled. Let us proclaim to others that anyone who reconciles with God will always find peace and joy.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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