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“We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this
brother of yours was dead and has come to life;
he was lost and has been found.”
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Luke 15:30
September 15, 2013
24th Sunday of the Year
The Prodigal Son
Dear Friends,
God’s Mercy and ours – one major theme of Pope Francis, perhaps
his key theme so far, is to point us to the infinite Mercy of God. His
papal coat of arms or motto is “miserando atque eligendo.” As it appears
in the gospel, this translates to: “I will look upon him with mercy,
and I will choose him.” The Pope is emphasizing the theme of mercy
preached by Pope John Paul II who established the First Sunday of Easter
as “Mercy Sunday.”
Pope Francis has said, “I believe this is the time of mercy.”
In his reflection on the gospel for this Sunday, the story of the
Prodigal Son, Pope Francis explains, “I think about how and when the
Prodigal Son returned home, his father didn’t say to him, ‘But you,
listen, sit down. What did you do with the money?’ Instead, he held a
party!” Pope Francis challenges Christians today to imitate and
celebrate that divine mercy and forgiveness. He writes, “If the Lord
never tires of forgiving, we don’t have any other path than this one.”
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Almighty and merciful God, the fountain of all goodness, we
confess to You that we have sinned against You. Wash us from the stains
of our past sins, and give us grace and power to put away all hurtful
things. Eternal light, shine into our hearts. Eternal goodness, deliver
us from evil. Eternal power, be our support. Eternal wisdom, scatter the
darkness of our ignorance. Eternal pity, have mercy on us. So
strengthen our weakness, let us follow in the footsteps of Your blessed
Son, may we obtain Your Mercy and enter into Your promised joy.
Amen
Rev. Peter Schineller, S.J., CMMB Board of Directors
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