Saturday, March 23, 2019

God loves us in spite of our sin, come to Him (Readings for March 23, 2019 annotated)

Key
What these scriptures tell us about God
What these scriptures tell us to do
Commentary
Hyperlink to additional resources 

Today’s readings reflect God’s deep love for us. That reality is also reflected in the scriptures reflected in Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin 

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; as in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs.

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on ustreading underfoot our guiltYou will cast into the depths of the sea all our sinsYou will show faithfulnessto Jacob, and grace to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquitieshe heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destructionhe crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chidenor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with usnor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Verse Before the Gospel Luke 15:18
I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

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.'"

What these scriptures tell us about God
the God who removes guilt and pardons sin
who does not persist in anger forever
delights rather in clemency
again have compassion on us
treading underfoot our guilt
You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins
You will show faithfulness
The Lord is kind and merciful.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
welcomes sinners and eats with them.
While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him
was filled with compassion
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him
celebrate with a feast
everything I have is yours.
we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

What these scriptures tell us to do
Bless the LORD
all my being, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD
forget not all his benefits
go to my father 
say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you

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