Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 15, 1-3. 11-32
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 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 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.'”
God’s Mercy
1. Tax collectors and sinners. This Gospel passage always gives me hope and inspires me to keep trying, because it reminds me that even in my weakness and sinfulness, I am part of God’s Church, striving to grow and change. Those who come to Jesus are aware of their faults and shortcomings, and that’s why they seek Him. The real issue arises with those who see themselves as pure and without sin — those who assume the role of judges, condemning others while forgetting their own need for mercy. Today, I want to apologize for the times you may have come to church and felt judged by us. I’m sorry for not realizing that our role was to help heal your wounds, not to pass judgment simply because you were struggling. Too often, as Church members, we act harshly. We’re all too ready to judge instead of healing. I also want to apologize to fellow priests or religious sisters whose struggles were visible; instead of offering them healing, we sometimes condemned them for not being perfect or for failing to be strong all the time. Forgive us for turning our backs on a priest who left the ministry for reasons unknown (and unnecessary for us to know), ignoring him even when we encountered him on the street. Jesus reminds us today that those we reject are precisely the ones He seeks.
2. The sons. In this parable, we encounter two attitudes that many of us experience. First, there’s the tendency to believe we’ve achieved everything on our own, focusing on pleasure, parties, and personal success. Yet life eventually teaches that when wealth disappears and achievements fade, friends and your support system may also vanish—sometimes even family steps back. Success tends to attract people, but hardship often leaves us feeling alone. Secondly, there’s the outlook of the older son: acting out of habit or convenience, constantly measuring ourselves against others, and letting pride guide our actions. At different times, we might find ourselves in either role, but it’s important to recognize and address these attitudes honestly.
3. The Father. He is the one who continually waits. He represents God, whose grace surpasses all our failures and sins, and who always remains present. We are always given the chance to repent, change and seek forgiveness; God will provide moments of insight to help us realize that everything in this life has boundaries and seasons. To leave emptiness behind and accept all that God offers, we simply need to acknowledge our shortcomings, ask for the Father’s help, and let Him guide us. The greatest blessing of returning to God is discovering, once again, that life itself is a joyful celebration. Remember: In critical moments, even those who claim not to believe will seek comfort, asking for a blessing in times of fear. Take a moment to reflect on your journey. If you have faith, remember: “you will always live.”
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
