Twenty-fourth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary:
132
L-Erbgha
u Ghoxrin Hadd taz-Zmien ta’ Matul is-Sena
Reading
1 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.
Qari
I mill-Ktieb tal-Ezodu 32, 7-11. 13-14
F’dak
iz-zmien, il-Mulej qal lil Mosè: “Mur u inzel, ghaliex thassar il-poplu
tieghek, li inti tellajt mill-Egittu. Malajr warrbu mit-triq li jiena wrejthom:
ghamlu ghalihom ghogol tal-metall imdewweb, nizlu wicchom fl-art iqimuh, u
offrewlu sagrificcju u qalu: “Dawn huma l-allat tieghek, Izrael, li tellghuk
mill-art tal-Egittu”. U l-Mulej issokta jghid lil Mosè: “Jiena harist lejn dan
il-poplu, u rajt li hu poplu ta’ ras iebsa. Hallini wahdi, issa, halli nixghel
il-korla tieghi ghalihom u neqridhom. U lilek naghmlek gens kbir”. Mosè mbaghad
talab bil-hniena quddiem il-Mulej, Alla tieghu, u qal: “Ghaliex, Mulej, tixghel
bil-korla tieghek ghall-poplu tieghek, li int, b’hila kbira u b’id qawwija,
hrigtu mill-art tal-Egittu? Ftakar f’Abraham, f’Izakk u f’Izrael, il-qaddejja
tieghek, li int hliftilhom bik innifsek u ghedtilhom: “Inkattar in-nisel
taghkom bhall-kwiekeb tas-sema, u din l-art kollha, li jien weghedt, naghtiha
lil nisilkom bhala wirt ghal dejjem”. U l-Mulej nidem mill-hsara li qal li kien
se jaghmel lill-poplu tieghu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
Responsorial
Psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
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.
Salm
Responsorjali Salm 50 (51), 3-4.12-13.
17 u 19
R/: Inqum
u mmur ghand missieri
Ikollok
hniena minni, o Alla, fi tjubitek;
fil-kobor
tal-hniena tieghek hassar htijieti.
Ahsilni
kollni mill-htija tieghi;
naddafni
mid-dnub tieghi. R/.
Ohloq fija
qalb safja, o Alla,
u spirtu
qawwi gedded fija.
La
twarrabnix minn quddiemek;
tnehhix
minni l-ispirtu qaddis tieghek. R/.
Iftahli
xufftejja, Sidi,
u fommi
jxandar it-tifhir tieghek.
Is-sagrificcju
tieghi, o Alla, hu l-qalb niedma;
qalb
maqsuma u soghbiena ma twarrabhiex, o Alla. R/.
Reading
2 1 Tm 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,
honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Qari
II mill-Ewwel Ittra lil Timotju 1,
12-17
Ghaziz,
nizzi hajr lil Kristu Gesù Sidna, li tani l-qawwa ghal dan ix-xoghol u li
deherlu li kienet tisthoqqli l-fiducja tieghu u ghamilni ministru tieghu, lili
li qabel kont daghaj, persekutur u zebliehi tieghu. Izda sibt il-hniena, ghax
dak li ghamilt ghamiltu bla ma kont naf, billi kont ghadni bla fidi. Anzi lili
l-grazzja ta’ Sidna kienet moghtija bil-kotra, flimkien mal-fidi u mal-imhabba,
li hi fi Kristu Gesù.Din hija
kelma ta’ min jemminha u jilqaghha ghalkollox: li Kristu Gesù gie fid-dinja
biex isalva l-midinbin; u fosthom, lili l-ewwel wiehed. Izda jien minhabba
f’hekk sibt il-hniena, biex bija, bhala l-ewwel wiehed, Kristu Gesù juri
s-sabar kollu tieghu, b’ezempju ghal dawk li kienu ghad iridu jemmnu fih biex
ikollhom il-hajja ta’ dejjem. Lis-Sultan
ta’ dejjem, li ma jmutx u li ma jidhirx, lil Alla wahdu, gieh u glorja ghal
dejjem ta’ dejjem! Ammen. Il-Kelma
tal-Mulej
Gospel
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.’”
Evangelju Qari skond San Luqa 15, 1-32
F’dak
iz-zmien, 1il-pubblikani u l-midinbin kienu jersqu lejnesù bi hgarhom biex
jisimghuh. U kemm il-farizej u kemm il-kittieba kienu jgemgmu u jghidu: “Nies
midinba jilqa’ ghandu dan u jiekol maghhom”. Gesù qabad u qalilhom din
il-parabbola: “Min hu dak fostkom li jkollu mitt naghga u jitlef wahda minnhom,
u ma jhallix id-disgha u disghin l-ohra fid-dezert biex imur wara l-mitlufa sa
ma jsibha? U meta jsibha, jifrah biha u jerfaghha fuq spallejh, imur id-dar,
isejjah ghandu lil hbiebu u l-girien, u jghidilhom: “Ifirhu mieghi, ghax sibt
in-naghga li kienet intilfitli”. Nghidilkom li l-istess jigri fis-smewwiet:
ikun hemm aktar ferh ghal midneb wiehed li jindem milli ghal disgha u disghin
bniedem tajjeb li ma kellux bzonn ta’ ndiema. Jew min hi dik il-mara li jkollha
ghaxar drakmiet u titlef wahda minnhom, li mhijiex sejra tixghel il-musbieh u
tiknes id-dar, u tibqa’ tfittex bil-ghaqal sa ma ssibha? U meta ssibha,
issejjah ghandha lil hbiebha u l-girien, u tghidilhom: “Ifirhu mieghi, ghax
sibt id-drakma li kienet intilfitli”. Nghidilkom jien li l-istess ferh ikun
hemm fost l-angli ta’ Alla ghal midneb wiehed li jindem”. Qalilhom ukoll: “Kien hemm ragel li kellu
zewg ulied. Iz-zghir qal lil missieru: “Missier, aghtini s-sehem li jmiss lili
mill-gid”. U dak qassmilhom il-gid. Ma kinux ghaddew wisq granet, meta z-zghir
sarr kollox u telaq minn beltu lejn pajjiz imbieghed, u hemmhekk berbaq gidu
kollu f’hajja mtajra. Meta hela kulma kellu, fuq dak il-pajjiz waqa’ guh kbir,
u beda jhoss ruhu fil-bzonn. U mar dahal ma’ wiehed minn dak il-pajjiz, li
baghtu fir-raba’ tieghu jirgha l-hniezer. Kien jixtieq kieku jimla zaqqu mqar
bil-harrub li kienu jieklu l-hniezer, imma hadd ma kien jaghtih. Imbaghad dahal
fih innifsu u qal: “Kemm lavranti ma’ missieri ghandhom hobz bix-xaba’, u jien
qieghed hawn immut bil-guh! Ha nqum u mmur ghand missieri, u nghidlu: Missier,
dnibt kontra s-sema u kontra tieghek; ma jisthoqqlix izjed nissejjah ibnek;
zommni b’wiehed mil-lavranti tieghek”. Qam, u telaq ghal ghand missieru. Izda kif kien ghadu fil-boghod missieru lemhu
u thassru, u b’girja wahda mar inxtehet fuq ghonqu u biesu. Qallu ibnu:
“Missier, dnibt kontra s-sema u kontra tieghek; ma jisthoqqlix izjed nissejjah
ibnek”. Izda l-missier qal lill-qaddejja tieghu: “Isaw! Gibulu l-isbah libsa u
xidduhielu, libbsulu c-curkett f’sebghu u s-sandli f’riglejh! Gibu l-ghogol
l-imsemmen u oqtluh, ha nieklu u naghmlu festa, ghax dan ibni kien mejjet u
raga’ qam, kien mitluf u nstab!” U ghamlu festa. Mela ibnu l-kbir kien
fl-ghalqa. Huwa u riega’ lura, kif wasal qrib id-dar sama’ daqq u zfin. Sejjah
wiehed mill-qaddejja u staqsieh dak x’kien. Qallu dak: “Hawn huk, u missierek
qatillu l-ghogol l-imsemmen, ghax raga’ kisbu qawwi u shih”. Hu inkorla, u ma
riedx jidhol gewwa, izda missieru hareg jitolbu jidhol. Izda hu qal lil
missieru: “Ara, ili dawn is-snin kollha naqdik, kelmtek ma ksirthielek qatt, u
kieku qatt tajtni gidi lili biex naghmel ikla u nifrah ma’ hbiebi! 30Imbaghad
jigi dan ibnek, li belaghlek gidek man-nisa zienja, u lilu toqtollu l-ghogol
l-imsemmen!”. Wiegbu missieru: “Ibni, inti dejjem mieghi, u kulma hu tieghi
huwa tieghek. Imma kien mehtieg li naghmlu festa u nifirhu, ghax dan huk kien
mejjet u raga’ qam, kien mitluf u nstab”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
////////////////////
The Lord is Merciful and
Compassionate
On this 24th Sunday of ordinary time, united by our faith in
Christ, we have gathered in the presence of our Lord who is merciful and
compassionate. The second preface of the weekday Mass says: “…Almighty and
Eternal God, in goodness You created man, and when he was justly condemned, in
mercy and love You redeemed him through Christ our Lord…” This is the summary of
this Sunday’s message.
This Sunday, the church offers us another golden opportunity to
reflect on God’s mercy and compassion. This is fully revealed in His son Jesus
Christ. One important fact that runs through all the readings of this Sunday is
the readiness of God to welcome and receive us irrespective of how much we have
fallen and gone away from him.
In the first reading of next Sunday, we discover a God who is
faithful to his vows. He also demonstrated that his love and mercy surpass his
anger and judgement. As a merciful and compassionate father, God heard the
prayers of Moses on behalf of his people. Hence, He fulfilled His promise that:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray…I
will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin….” (2 Chr 7:14).
A very important lesson we must learn from this reading is, the
power of intercession for both ourselves and for others. Like Moses, the Christ
we celebrate today, relentlessly continues to intercede for us every day. This
is especially at the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. So, we must not be tired of
interceding for one another and for our world before our merciful and
compassionate Lord. So, we must approach Him in prayers always, reminding him
of his promises as Moses did.
In the second reading Paul reminds us that, like himself, we are
all products of God’s mercy. In this reading Paul recounted how his salvation
was made possible through the intercession and mercy of Christ. Hence, like
Paul, let us take advantage of this same saving mercy of God for our eternal
salvation. Let us also be grateful to Him, who shows us mercy through Christ.
In Sunday’s gospel, Christ was accused of welcoming sinners.
Through his action and parables, He demonstrated how merciful and compassionate
he is towards us. In spite of our sins and stubbornness, Christ is willing to
welcome us back to himself. Each day, He beckons us: “Come let us settle the
matter, even though your sins are as red as crimson, you shall be as white as
snow” (Is 1:18-19). Through his merciful and compassionate heart, He is ready
to make all things new for us again. It does not matter what it will cost Him.
So, like the prodigal son, it is time to accept this invitation.
It is time to return to the merciful and compassionate Lord whose mercy
surpasses his judgment and wrath. God has made our return very easy through
Jesus Christ. So, all we need is to realize ourselves.
Sincerely, and humbly we must make a very important decision like
the prodigal son: “I will leave this place and go back to my father.” We must
not be ashamed to return to God our father because: “His steadfast love never
ceases, and His mercy never comes to an end. They are new every morning, and
great is His faithfulness” (Lam 3:22-23).
Peace be with you all! Maranatha!
////////////////////// This brief reflection was written by Fr.
Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp, a Catholic priest and a member of the
Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans) of Puerto
Rico & Dominican Republic.
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