Faith Daily | 6 March 2021

PRAYER of the WEEK Lent Two

Remember, O Lord,

what you have wrought in us

and not what we deserve,

and, as you have called us to your service,

make us worthy of our calling;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen APBA p484

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 15: 1-3. 11-32

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3So he told them this parable:

11Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Penny Graham

The Jewish religious leaders again criticize Jesus for being a friend of the tax collectors and sinners alike, for associating with these marginalized people. I don't think it bothered him that much. Everyone was equal, no matter who they were & how they fitted in the scheme of things.

It was during one of these gatherings that Jesus told them of a parable, concerning a lost sheep. One of the flock of sheep is missing, everyone of his flock are important to the shepherd(Jesus) and he goes out to search for it and when he finds it, there is great joy and rejoicing for the sheep that was found.

In another parable, this one being of the lost son, unlike the sheep, the son can take the initiative to return to his father. But this parable focuses not just on God's mercy, but also on the need to REPENT. Even though the younger son has taken his part of the inheritance and recklessly spent it all. His father welcomes him back with open arms & forgives him, after the son repents & comes to his senses.

There was a great celebration in honour of his son's return to the fold. His father thought he had lost his son to 'death'. The older son was not impressed and was angry and refused to join in the celebrations. His father has a word to his older son and says that everything I have is yours; we have to celebrate and be GLAD, because this brother of yours was dead & is ALIVE again. He was lost and is found!

All life is precious & important to GOD, whether it be animal, plant or human being. It all matters to GOD! YOU MATTER!

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FINAL PRAYER: James Ferguson in Lift Up Your Hearts – Prayers for Anglicans

An Act of Contrition

Teach us, O Lord,

to be penitent for our own sins,

rather than severe to others;

and plant in our hearts such forbearance

toward all, such gentleness and forgiveness,

that we, recompensing no one evil for evil,

may in the strength of your Son

overcome evil with good.

Amen