Lenten message of Pope Francis based on Fratelli Tutti No. 87

No one can experience the true beauty of life without relating to others, without having real faces to love.


TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Luke: 15:18 "I will get up and go to my Father, and I will say to Him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;"


TODAY'S REFLECTION

In the first reading Prophet Micah very beautifully reminds us: “Who is a God like thee, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger for ever because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion upon us, he will tread our iniquities under foot.… Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea!” (Mic 5:18-19)

Gospel reading we have the parable of the prodigal son.

The story Jesus tells has three principal characters in it, the father, the younger son (the prodigal) and the elder son. 

Both sons become alienated from their father in different ways. 

The young son arrogantly demands his share of the estate which was really only due to him when his father died. 

Having got what he wanted, he spends it on himself and just wastes it. 

He turned his back on his father in no uncertain terms. 

The older son also turned his back on his father in a different way. 

His little speech to his father is full of righteous indignation, displaying a judgemental towards his father and his younger brother. 

He was dutiful but he comes across as resentful and ungenerous, especially in his view of his father and his brother. 

He sees his father as a slave driver, which he clearly is not, ‘All these years, I have slaved for you’. 

He sees his brother, whom he refers to as ‘this son of yours’, as a lost cause and nothing more. 

The father goes out to both of his sons. 

In some ways, he seems to have found his younger son easier to deal with; he has no hesitation giving him a hug, because this son comes to him in his poverty. 

The father had no scope for giving his older son a hug because this son came to him in anger and self-pity the parable Jesus is telling us that God will go to outlandish lengths to bring us into communion with himself. 

In our life, often as children – like the Prodigal Son(s) – we go away.

We try to do something good… but our life turns into a mess!

Our student life gets messed up with lack of commitment and failures

Our marriage hits the rocks with misunderstandings and lack of acceptance

Our family life gets into a crisis with lack of unity and peace of mind

We feel our life is all in a mess.

We find ourselves lost, frustrated and upset!

But in all such situations, we need to look up… and see how the Loving Father is waiting to embrace us… And love us!

Yes, the Merciful Father is waiting for each one of us… Whatever be the mess, that my life may be in!

Let us run into His embrace of Love… with a sincere repentance and contrition of heart

And pledge to live for Him, and with Him!

For you, forever!


RESOLUTION

Let's resolve to cultivate the virtue of humility and a recognition that we are lost and in need of being found.

Have a relaxed Saturday  and a cheerful  weekend. Pray that the second wave may not affect our Easter celebrations