THE PRODIGAL SON…

Joshua 5:9-129 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.
10 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.
11 And on the morrow after the passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 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.2 Corinthians 5:17-2117 Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 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.
20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.Luke 15:1-3,11-321 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable:
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons; 12 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.
13 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.
14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17 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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘
20 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.
21 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.’ 22 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; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry. 25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.
27 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.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 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.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'”  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: As soon as the Israelites passed over the Jordan, God instructed Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe to build a stone lodge called Gilgal, wherein the people could rest. Gilgal is so named in rememberance of the Passover victory whereupon God’s mercy was lavished upon the people who were fed with supernatural heavenly bread; manna, followed by fruit of the soil of Canaan. 

Notice the typological inferences: The people are delivered from an evil oppressor and escape a water death—baptism, repentance, confession, absolution.”A place of rest” which denotes a place of worship wherein the ark God is present and manna is available to feed and nourish the people, which foreshadow the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

St PAUL refers to Christs ordained priestly ministers, accredited ambassadors who were empowered by Christ Jesus to administer the Sacrament of Reconcilliation also referred to as confession. Christs death and ressurection made it possible for God to use His ministers (v20) as a lynchpin to reconcile the people to God, to forgive our sins in and through Christ Jesus.

THE GOSPEL READING tells the story of a young man who demanded his portion of the family, estate so he could rid himself from his father’s ever watchful gaze that supposedly prevented him from making his own life choices! The older brother begrudgingly and greedily decided to stick arround, hoping that he may obtain or extract more benefits from his father than what was bequeathed to his younger brother.

The youngest brothers return exposed the true nature of the oldest brothers love of money, friends and parties! Not only was he angry, he refused to join the banquet, never mind listen to his father’s plee that he welcome and reconcile with his brother! In truth, not only was he no different that his younger brother, he was also an unprepentant sinner who begrudged his father’s lavish treatment towards the young brother, that was daily offered to him!

Today’s parable apply to all of us. We who have concluded that we are in a state of grace because of our heritage:-Baptism, Confirmation and our weekly or— ‘when it suits us’—presence at the banquet of Christ, may be surprised to find out that we are no different than the the elder or prodigal son! Sin is an affliction that manifests in all of us in different degrees, thus we cannot day in and day out partake of the wedding feast unless and untill we present ourselves to the ministers of reconciliation who has been given the power to forgive our sins, whereby we shall by grace be forgiven and robed in mercy and love! Jn 20:21-23 

LET US PRAY:Psalms 34:2-7
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.