Reading I: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”
While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month. On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Taste=טָעַם= ṭāʿam Blue Letter Bible to taste, perceive, eat; perceive by the taste or flavor
see = רָאָה= rā'â Blue Letter Bible to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider; learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out; consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish; gaze at;enjoy, have experience, take heed; spy, stare; enjoy the light; be pleased with the sight; provide or care for, go to see
goodness =טוֹב= ṭôḇ Blue Letter Bible good, pleasant, agreeable; excellent; rich, valuable in estimation; appropriate, becoming; happy, prosperous, kind, benign; right (ethical); welfare, prosperity, happiness
bless = בָּרַךְ= bāraḵ Blue Letter Bible to kneel; be adored; to praise, salute; celebrate, adore
all = כֹּל= kol Blue Letter Bible the whole; any, each, every, anything;totality, everything, of all kinds, every sort
praise = תְּהִלָּה= tᵊhillâ Blue Letter Bible song, a hymn;adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God); laudation, glory
ever = תָּמִיד= tamiyd Blue Letter Bible continually, continuously; constant (or adverbially, constantly); alway(-s); perpetual
glory = הָלַל= halal Blue Letter Bible to shine; to flash forth light; to praise, boast, be boastful; be commended; glory; rave, celebrate; to be clear, to be brilliant; to sing; to make bright or shining
lowly = עָנָו= ʿānāv Blue Letter Bible poor, humble, afflicted, meek; lowly; miserable
glad = שָׂמַח= śāmaḥ Blue Letter Bible to rejoice, be glad;gladden, make glad;to brighten up; make) blithe or gleesome;cheer up; make merry;take pleasure in; joyful or cheerful
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Glorify = גָּדַל= gāḏal Blue Letter Bible to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things; twist a cord, make firm; become strong, (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride); advance; increase, lift up, magnify; to make much of
together = יַחַד= yaḥaḏ Blue Letter Bible union, unitedness; together, altogether, all together, alike; a unit; unitedly, unitedness; joined together; mutually; wholly, altogether; alike
extol =רוּם= rûm Blue Letter Bibleto rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted; to lift up; exalt; set on high; hold up; raise, rear, cause to grow
sought = דָּרַשׁ= darash Blue Letter Bible to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require; to seek deity in prayer and worship; to practice, study, follow, seek with application; to follow (for pursuit or search); diligently, inquire, make inquisition; to learn, to study: frequent; apply oneself; to take care for
answered=עָנָה=ʿānâ Blue Letter Bible to heed, i.e. pay attention; announce, pronounce; utter; respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances; to answer, respond, reply, testify, speak, shout; to sing, utter tunefully
delivered = נָצַל= nāṣal Blue Letter Bible to snatch away, deliver, rescue; to be torn out or away; defend; preserve; draw out, pull out
fears = מְגוֹרָה= mᵊḡôrâ Blue Letter Bible terror; affright; things dreaded
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Look = נָבַט= nāḇaṭ Blue Letter Bible look, to regard, show regard to, pay attention to, consider; look intently at; to regard with pleasure, favor or care; behold; desire, gloat
radiant = נָהַר= nāhar Blue Letter Bible to flow, stream; to shine, beam, light, burn; to beam, be radiant; to sparkle; be lightened; be glad, rejoice
shame = חָפֵר= ḥāp̄ēr Blue Letter Bible to be ashamed, be confounded, be abashed, feel abashed; cause embarrassment; disappointment; reproach; dishonor
poor = עָנִי= ʿānî Blue Letter Bible poor, afflicted, humble, wretched; weak; humble, lowly; depressed in mind or circumstances; needy; meek, mild; oppressed
called= קָרָא= qārā' Blue Letter Bible to call, cry, utter a loud sound; to proclaim; to read aloud, read (to oneself); the idea of accosting a person met; address by name;call=name= give name to; to call upon or to
distress = צָרָה= ṣārâ Blue Letter Bible straits, distress, trouble; tightness; adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble; vexer, rival wife, adversary
saved = יָשַׁע= yāšaʿ Blue Letter Bible to be liberated, be saved, be delivered; to save from moral troubles; to give victory to; to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; to free or succor; defend, help, preserve, rescue;be capacious, make wide, spacious, make sufficient, be or live in abundance; placed in freedom; give width and breadth to, liberate; save, from evils and troubles; to be opulent; to set free, preserve
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
in = ἐν = en Blue Letter Bible in, by, with, among, under, at, near, by; in the presence of;within, in the course of; motion into something, entering into, mingling in; that which one either leads or brings with him, or with which he is furnished or equipped; the instrument or means by or with which anything is accomplished; aided by one, by the intervention or agency of someone, by (means of) one; the state or condition in which anything is done or anyone exists, acts, suffers; the form in which anything appears or is exhibited; the measure or standard; the things in (with) which one is busied; that in which other things are contained and upheld, as their cause and origin; that which gives opportunity; to exchange one thing for another; remaining, staying, continuing in some place, state, or condition; that in which any person or thing is inherently fixed, implanted, or with which it is intimately connected; of the whole in which a part inheres; of a person to whom another is wholly joined and to whose power and influence he is subject, so that the former may be likened to the place in which the latter lives and moves; ingrafted; in fellowship and union with; spiritual fellowship or union with; to be in the power of, be actuated by, inspired by; give self wholly to
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon in, within, surrounded by; in the number of, amongst; in the presence of; in one's hands, within one's reach or power; depends on, rests with; implying both motion to and subsequent position in a place; in the practice of
new = καινός = kainos Blue Letter Bible that which is unaccustomed or unused, not "new" in time, recent, but "new" as to form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old; of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of; recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn;which as recently made is superior to what it succeeds; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon new, fresh; newly-invented, novel, innovations, without precedent
creation = κτίσις = ktisis Blue Letter Bible the act of founding, establishing, building etc.; the creative act in process; creation i.e. thing created;collectively, the sum or aggregate of created things; some particular kind or class of created things or beings; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon founding, settling; created thing, creature
reconciled = καταλλάσσω = katallassō Blue Letter Bibleto change, exchange; to change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value; o reconcile (those who are at variance); return to favour with, be reconciled to one;to receive one into favour; ceases to be angry, offended; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon change or give away; exchange one thing for another; change a person from enmity to friendship, reconcile
reconciliation = καταλλαγή= katallagē Blue Letter Bible adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favour
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.
Gospel: 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:
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“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.’”
drawing near = ἐγγίζω= eggizō Blue Letter Bible to draw or come near to; to approach; to bring near, to make near; to be present; to come to or upon; to join; to join one thing to another; be at hand
listens= ἀκούω = akouō Blue Letter BibleHarkin to; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to give eartoa teaching or a teacher; to comprehend; to perceive anyone's voice; to yield to, hear and obey; have regard to; to perceive the distinct words of a voice; to yield obedience to the voice; to perceive in the soulHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexiconhearken, give ear; listen to; obey; hear and understand
welcomes = προσδέχομαι = prosdechomai Blue Letter Bible to accept favorably, or receive to oneself; to look for, wait for; to receive to oneself, to receive favorably; to admit, to give access to one's self; receive one into intercourse and companionship; to accept (not to reject) a thing offered; allow; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon receive favourably, accept;receive hospitably; admit into one's presence; await, expect
long way = μακράν = makran Blue Letter Bible a good way; far; a great way; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon far; to a greater distance; as far as possible
caught sight of = ὁράω = horaō Blue Letter Bible to see with the eyes; to see with the mind, to perceive, know; to take heed, beware; to care for, pay heed to; to attend to;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon take, pay, or give heed; behold, perceive, observe; look out for, provide
filled with compassion = σπλαγχνίζομαι = splagchnizomai
Blue Letter Bible to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity); feel sympathy.Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon feel pity, compassion, or mercy
ran = τρέχω = trechō Blue Letter Bible of persons in haste; to run or walk hastily; to exert oneself, strive hard; to spend one's strength in performing or attaining something; the exertion of all one's efforts; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon move quickly
embraced = ἐπιπίπτω = epipiptō Blue Letter Bible to rush or press upon; to fall into one's embrace
celebrate = εὐφραίνω = euphrainō Blue Letter Bible to cheer, gladden, to rejoice, make merry, faring sumptuously; to be happy, be delighted with a thing;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, cheer, gladden, make merry, enjoy oneself, rejoice, enjoy a pleasure
rejoice = χαίρω= chairō Blue Letter Bible be glad,conveys the thought of joy or cheer;to be "cheer"ful, i.e. calmly happy;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon rejoice at, take pleasure in a thing, express one's joy by laughter, being glad, delight in doing, hail, welcome, joyful
angry = ὀργίζω = orgizō Blue Letter Bible to provoke, to arouse to anger; to be provoked to anger, be angry, be wroth; become exasperated; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon make angry, provoke to anger, irritate; grow angry, be wroth; in a passion
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin
What these readings tell us about God & His ways:
I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard
from all his distress he saved him.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away
all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them
we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus
This man welcomes sinners and eats with them
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
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.
his father came out and pleaded with him
My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours
now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again
What these readings tell us to do:
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord
bless the LORD at all times
his praise shall be ever in my mouth
glory in the LORD
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord
Glorify the LORD with me
together extol his name
I sought the LORD
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord
Look to him
called out
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord
be reconciled to God
get up and go to my Father
say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you
drawing near to listen to Jesus
Coming to his senses
he got up and went back to his father.
filled with compassion
What these readings tell us not to do:
became angry
he refused to enter the house
