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Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
The LORD said to Moses,
"Go down at once to your people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
'This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'
I see how stiff-necked this people is," continued the LORD to Moses.
"Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.
Then I will make of you a great nation."
But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying,
"Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
'"I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'"
So the LORD relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people.
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
R./ I will rise and go to my father.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R./ I will rise and go to my father.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your holy spirit take not from me.
R./ I will rise and go to my father.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R./ I will rise and go to my father.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Beloved:
I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy
in appointing me to the ministry.
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant,
but I have been mercifully treated
because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example
for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.
To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God,
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luke 15:1-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So to them he addressed this parable.
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.
"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents."
Then he said,
"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 food 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 your 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 on 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.'"
Let us give thanks to the Father
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
for he has given us strength
and he came to forgive us our sins.
May his mercy and love be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
A. It Is A Joy For God To Forgive
When you forgive someone who has hurt you much, how much does it cost you to forgive? Is it done reluctantly or with joy? Do you have the courage to take the first step, or do you wait until the other humbly begs you? Today's message is one of great joy and peace: God is happy to forgive sinners. He welcomes them and he embraces them. That's what he has done for us. How many times? Can we do it for one another? Let us celebrate with Jesus the feast of our reconciliation with God and with one another.
B. Which Son Am I?
Forgiveness is so difficult and at the same time so sublime that it surpasses our own powers. But not the power of God's love. When God forgives us we are loved in the deepest of our being, even where we are not lovable. We are accepted not because of what we have or what we are; for we are accepted also when we stand empty-handed and feel we are not worth much. We cannot earn forgiveness; it comes as a surprise from God. He begs us to spring that surprise on others too: he alone can make us capable of doing so.
A. It Is A Joy For God To Forgive
Let us thank the Lord for the many times
he has forgiven us our sins.
Let us ask him to forgive us once more
and to dispose us to forgive one another.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you did not wait
for sinners to come to you
but you went to seek them:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, it is a joy for you
and for your Father in heaven
to forgive wholeheartedly the repentant sinner:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you ask us
to celebrate and rejoice with you
when forgiveness restores people to life:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
and bring us the joy of your reconciliation.
Dispose us to forgive others gladly
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
B. Which Son Am I?
Let God's forgiveness come down on us
as the wholesome rain after many dry days.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, your name means:
He who comes to save people from their sins.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you ask us
to be merciful as our Father is merciful:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, where you forgive
and where we can forgive,
there can only be joy and celebration:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Rain down on us your mercy, Lord,
forgive us all our sins
and make us forgive others as you forgive us.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Let us pray to our faithful Father
who always loves us and waits for us
(pause)
God, our patient Father,
it is a joy for you to forgive
the repentant sinner.
You even allowed your Son to lay down his life
to bring us forgiveness and life.
Dispose those whom we have offended
to forgive us too,
and make us always ready
to forgive wholeheartedly and without regrets
those who have hurt us.
Make us people who forgive and receive forgiveness
with the goodness you have shown us
in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading Introduction: God's Love Is Greater Than His Justice
God had saved his people, yet they abandoned him to adore the golden calf. Moses pleaded with God to spare his people.
Second Reading Introduction: Christ Has Forgiven Me
Paul is aware that he is a sinner. But he has encountered the forgiving Christ. Full of gratitude, he praises God's greatness and love.
Gospel Introduction: It Is A Joy For God To Forgive
The parables of this chapter of Luke have one focal point: God does not give up on sinners; he keeps looking for them and welcomes them back with joy.
Let us pray to the Lord our God who is patient with sinners and rich in mercy, and let us say: R/ Forgive us, as we forgive others.
• That God's Church may bring the Good News of reconciliation and peace to all of humanity, let us pray: R/ Forgive us, as we forgive others.
• That the faithful of all Christian Churches may encounter one another in a spirit of reconciliation and friendship, let us pray: R/ Forgive us, as we forgive others.
• That the disciples of Christ may fight all forms of evil and sin and yet may not condemn and reject those who have committed them, let us pray: R/ Forgive us, as we forgive others.
• That priests may be patient and merciful ministers of the sacrament of reconciliation, let us pray: R/ Forgive us, as we forgive others.
• That in our Christian homes parents may teach their children by word and deed to be people who can forgive and are forgiven, let us pray: R/ Forgive us, as we forgive others.
• That in our Christian communities strangers and discouraged sinners may encounter the merciful God in the forgiveness of their brothers and sisters, let us pray: R/ Forgive us, as we forgive others.
God our Father, your Son came to seek and save those who are lost. Help us to accept wholeheartedly those who have failed and to celebrate together the joy of your forgiveness, in Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Lord God, merciful Father,
this bread and this wine are the signs,
that you offer us forgiveness and life
through your Son Jesus Christ.
He is willing to sit at table
with people who have failed.
Make us one in heart and soul
with him and with one another,
that sin may no longer alienate us
from you, from our true selves
and from our brothers and sisters.
And may you welcome us one day
at your feast of joy
that lasts for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
At the heart of the Eucharistic Prayer we proclaim that Jesus shed his blood for us "so that sins may be forgiven." Let us thank the Father for his mercy.
The prodigal son repented
and returned to his Father.
In the words of Jesus,
we too pray to our Father
to forgive us our sins
as we forgive others.
R/ Our Father...
Deliver us Lord, from every evil,
and grant us the wisdom
of discovering your will in everyday life.
In your mercy, set us free
from all attachments and fears
that keep us from hearing
the call of your Son to follow him.
Help us to prepare in hope and joy
for the return in glory among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
R/ For the kingdom...
This is Jesus, the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
He welcomed sinners and ate with them.
Happy are we to be invited
to share his meal.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Lord God, Father of us all,
accept our thanks
that the grace and love
you offer us in Jesus your Son
is always greater than our sins.
In gratitude for your forgiving mercy,
may we carry out with joy
the mission of reconciliation,
which you entrust to us.
May we learn the joy of forgiving
through him who is our life and reconciliation,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
We know from experience
that one of the hardest things in life
is to forgive completely and without regret.
How much happier our communities would be
if we could put aside our injured pride
and forgive one another wholeheartedly,
if also we could give a place and new chances
to those who have failed.
May we be such a community
of acceptance, friendship, and reconciliation,
with the blessing of Almighty God,
the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us share with one another
the peace of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.
