＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Micah 7: 14-15, 18-20

 

Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

The Lord is kind and merciful.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32*

 Early in the morning, the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the Law (that is, the whole Council or San­hedrin) had their plan ready. They put Jesus in chains, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.  Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You say so.”

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask instead for the release of Barab­bas. Pilate replied, “And what shall I do with the man you call King of the Jews?” The crowd shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “What evil has he done?” But they shouted the louder, “Crucify him!”

As Pilate wanted to please the people, he freed Barabbas and after the flogging of Jesus had him handed over to be crucified. The soldiers took him inside the courtyard known as the prae­torium and called the rest of their companions. They clothed him in a purple cloak and twisting a crown of thorns, they forced it onto his head. Then they began saluting him, “Long life to the King of the Jews!” With a stick they gave him blows on the head and spat on him; then they knelt down pretending to worship him.

When they had finished mocking him, they pulled off the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. The soldiers led him out of the city to crucify him. On the way they met Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, and forced him to carry the cross of Je­sus.

When they had led him to the place called Golgotha, which means the Skull, they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he would not take it. Then they nailed him to the cross and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what each should take.

It was about nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The statement of his offense was displayed above his head and it read, “The King of the Jews.” They also crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.  People passing by laughed at him, shook their head and jeered, “Aha! So you are able to tear down the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now save yourself and come down from the cross!”

In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law mocked him saying to one another, “The man who saved others cannot save him­­self. Let’s see the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from his cross and then we will believe in him.” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus insulted him.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Our God is merciful and forgiving. This is what the parable of the prodigal son reveals to us. For Jesus, the Father is like the prodigal son’s father who willingly accepts and restores his son’s dignity after committing so many mistakes. This is the same God who continually invites and longs for our return. Many of us have buried ourselves in guilt and shame of our sins that we forget to look back to our very identity as God’s beloved. This is the reason why people find it difficult to free themselves from their slavery to sin.

In Jesus’ life, the sinners are also his friends. Those who are considered offenders of the law and Yahweh’s enemies are welcome in the company of Jesus. Let us not be like the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who instead of bridging and giving chances to sinners build walls and separation. They are like the elder son who felt envious because of the mercy the father has with his brother. Let us free ourselves from being judgmental towards our brothers and sisters; instead we draw ourselves closer to the mercy God has shown to all of us.