The Lord is merciful and compassionate

« Sunday,  September 16, 2019 »

 

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 

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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.