last Sunday after the Epiphany - called "forgiveness"
READING
reading of the prophet Hosea 1, 9a, 2, 7a.b-10. 16-18. 21-22
The Lord said to Hosea: "Their mother said:" I will go after my lovers, / give me my bread and my water, / my wool and my flax, / my oil and my drink. " / So here, we'll close the way with thorns, / hedge up with the barriers / and not find himself in his paths. / Chase her lovers, But not overtake them, / they will not find them. / Then say, "I shall return to my first husband, for they were better off than now." He did not understand that I gave her / grain, new wine and oil, / and cover with silver and gold, / which they used for Baal. / So, here, I will charm, / and bring her into the desert / and speak to her heart. / Will make its vineyards / and transform the Valley of Achor / in door of hope. / There I will answer / as in the days of his youth, / as when he came out of Egypt. / It will happen on that day / - declares the Lord - / call me: "My husband," And I will not call me no more, "Baal, my master." / I'll make you my wife forever, / I'll make you my wife / in justice and right, / in love and kindness, / I'll make you my wife in faithfulness and you shall know the Lord. "
PSALM Ps 102 (103)
® The Lord is good and great in love.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
not forget all his benefits. ®
He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases
,
save your life from the pit,
around you with kindness and mercy. ®
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and great in
.
not dealt with us according to our sins and
nor repay us according to our iniquities. ®
EPISTLE
Letter of Paul to the Romans 8, 1-4
Brothers there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus for the Law of the Spirit who gives life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not, rendered impotent because of the flesh, God made it possible: sending His own Son in the flesh similar to that of sin and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, because the justice of Law was fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.
GOSPEL
Reading of the Gospel according to Luke 15, 11-32
at that time. The Lord Jesus said again: "A man had two sons. The younger of them said his father: "Father, give me the share of assets that belong to me." And he divided his wealth between them. A few days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and set off for a distant country where he squandered his fortune by living debauchery. When he had spent all, there came a severe famine in that country, and he began to feel the pinch. So he went to serve a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. He would gladly have fed on the pods which were fed the pigs, but nobody gave him anything. Then came to himself and said, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and I perish here with hunger! I will rise, go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, are no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me like one of your employees. " He got up and returned to his father. When he was still way off, his father saw him, he had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. The son said "Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee, are no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his servants, 'Quickly, bring out the best robe and let her wear, Put the ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it; we are celebrating, because this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found ". And they began to celebrate. The eldest son was in the field. Come back when it was close to home, he heard music and dancing called one of the servants and asked what it was all that. That's said, "Your brother is here and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound." He was indignant, and refused to go. His father then went out to beg. But he said to his father: "Behold, I served you for many years and I never disobeyed your command, and you've never given a young goat to celebrate with my friends. But now that this son of yours came back, who has devoured your substance with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf. " The father said "Son, you are always with me and all that is mine is yours, but we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found". "
Comment
The text can be understood better if you connect it to the first lines of cap.15. In fact, they give
the true meaning of the parable of the prodigal son, as well as those of the lost sheep and coin that was found
.
"They approached him all the publicans and sinners to hear him. The Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying
: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." And he told them this parable: "Who
of you, having a hundred sheep ..,. Or, as a woman.;. And he said:" A man had two sons .. "(15.1 -
4)
Jesus, in Luke's Gospel, tells these three parables, and in particular the third, for it is
revealing the love of God to "publicans and sinners" and is responding to the murmurings of
right: the Pharisees, theologians, lovers who reject the reception of the law and mercy of Jesus,
so blatant and so outrageous.
So these parables are not directed to sinners. When the Gospel
it says "He said to them" (v 3) means that Jesus addresses the perfect, pure: they
those who claim to know God and His righteousness. Jesus spoke to them and says, "Here, with their
rejection of those who make mistakes, just and pure even put at risk their relationship with God and deform
knowledge, like the elder brother."
This reading is particularly evident in the second part of the parable of the prodigal son, who is also a story
splendid and comprehensive. But in the second part takes a fundamental role
the attitude of his elder brother, as shocked and precise location of the righteous. The
youngest son of a wealthy landowner asks for her inheritance. He is second
it is one-third of the real estate and movable property belongs entirely to the eldest son
(Deut 21:17; Lev 25.23 et seq.) The father, however, remains the usufruct of all that was, until his death
.
The father makes no resistance and divides substances between the two children. The younger son goes to a distant country
to the Gentiles, since they use feed the pigs. Live without a moral line if not that of
whim, taste, interest, emotion, exhibitionism, of squandering. The
search of pleasures, false friends and aberrations Sexual conclude not only nausea but also
depletion of resources. In the end, in order to survive, this young carefree
must adapt to the first job that happens and that is degrading because it has to graze
unclean animal, without, among other things, the possibility of recovering the possibility of life.
The boy finally "came to himself," which is not to say that he repents, but strictly by need, not understand
to have set a lifeline totally wrong and inconclusive. The memory of orderly life,
welfare of the house, of acceptance and respect of which he was honored him take the decision to return
however, trampling on the pride. Turns out the problem that arises is that of
survival. And, basically, is confident of a father who would know
accept, at least he hopes so, knowing certainly put some of his conditions: yield: "No more
account for my son, but the work as a wage earner" and so on.
The description of the father is summarized in five verbs: "The father saw him, he had compassion, ran
meeting, and fell on his neck and continued to kiss him" (v 20). And the child that the pigs have also denied the locust
, gives a robe (the best), the ring finger (the seal of the servants
and assets of the father), the sandals (it's free man, walking barefoot slaves).
The festival is a sign of joy when his father returns to the child at the top of his previous dignity,
an act completely free in which absolutely does not verify the presence or absence of
repentance. It is a sign of unconditional love that her father has, without seeking, inter alia, the consent of his eldest son
.
These returns, exhausted from work, and inquires with stunned amazement of the party in his house without his knowledge and organized
still quite exceptional. The servant is correct and gives directions
basic understanding. But at this point the father has to leave for the faithful son who refuses to enter
. They believed, in fact, they have good reason to disagree.
not yet discovered the father's heart (do not call him like that, while the younger son returned, his father called
almost five times to get used to that single element that allows him to stay in that house.
To analyze things well, the younger son discovers his father when he returns, the eldest son does not know
yet to discover the Father, with whom he lived since his heart has only ever considered a master
.
The parable ends here: it is not know if the older brother and came to party, do not know what
reports have started between the two brothers. The only certain fact is that the father must
continually re-educate those who are children, they may discover him in a paternity precious, profound and also different
that occurs for each in a unique and unparalleled.
Pill spiritual
E 'gratuity that makes love real and stable.
Even if the other leaves you,
your love for him is not affected.
suffer, but it is not.
It 's like the love of the Crucified: declined, giving life to those who reject it. Discussion
True repentance repentance (sorrow for sin O)
From the Lord learn a certain sequence: He came to suffer, but until it's time does not anticipate the passion.
So we must recognize clearly all sins, their severity, and experience them as our own, then comes the moment of repentance.
What does it mean to repent?
Repent means that we are horrified by the great distance that exists because of sin, between God and us.
In repentance there is no room for excuses or extenuating circumstances will in ¬ CONSIDERATIONS.
We must face our guilt as guilt and measure its severity.
To understand the gravity we must not look only at what we have done, but most to what God does for us. Even
¬ ment for repentance Jesus is our model.
Jesus takes our sins to the Father in a love like that purifying the Father sees only love the work of reconciliation and of the Son.
no difficulty, no fatigue, no deals, no speech, no miracle
is able to divert Jesus during his life,
by this attitude of love.
From this vicinity of the Son with the Father, we can understand how we have strayed.
We have no measure to understand the closeness that we had in the days of grace, and now we have lost.
Only if we use this way to measure our sin we come to repentance Christian.
fact, the Christian repentance is not to those who are disappointed not to be better than what it is, but that's what comes from the perception that we have strayed from the love of God
This repentance must cause pain, in fact it is not Christian is a simple act of intellect, but also involves the heart.
The pain must be in our heart of hearts that he should love and not loved. *****
from what must be born in pain?
From the fact that we have sinned before God, his love is greater than any other reality.
these circumstances: "In front of him," should be considered as specific as possible to elicit repentance.
Everyone should say to himself: "in front of his face I have taken a stand against him" we must put before our eyes, to live as much as possible, this situation.
God revealed in Jesus Christ his infinite love for me and had no hesitation to come to the Cross and I looked at him and I have betrayed, or at least, I have forgotten.
His love is the overwhelming reality that gives rise to pain.
As has happened to Peter who wept bitterly for having betrayed the man who for him is to give life.
Just because the pain comes from the love of God for us it does not Pain may be alone, but also becomes the certainty of salvation, the certainty that we will never be abandoned.
"Who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus" Rom. 8 S. says Paul.
The love of God is the foundation of pain, but also of hope.
The sinner in the depths of his faith know this love that can never be lost for him, and that is the main cause that makes it possible to repentance.
only from the standpoint of putting the pain of God is perfected.
What really matters is that the reason for the conversion must be God and love for him.
One could ask if there are other reasons to be distressed. more than love
of God must answer that many people grieve more for themselves than for God
there are those who grieve because he failed to be as he wished and was wounded in his pride;
there who is not managed to keep a promise made to the other and you feel diminished in the eyes of others.
These types of pain are not the right ones.
First because it has nothing to do with God, or rather forget to God
According because very often leads to paralysis and despair. You see that you do not succeed and instead of just work harder, leaving every effort to improve slowly, perhaps without being explicit is the attitude most common confession of the bad ¬ sions.
There are people who do not feel obliged to show a serious repentance before God and are limited to only a bit of regret about themselves.
This means not to obey the Lord, do not capitulate to him and want to keep the knife from the handle.
In this way, the relationship between live love God and man will die sooner or later.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE OTHER HAND, THE PAIN AND 'REAL?
If one is fully grasped by a real pain not only sees the sins committed, but also his whole life away from God for everything he does not want to know more
vividly apparent desire to extinguish this life to give way to the "newness" of the love of God and, therefore, to hope.
If we use an image, it is as if the sinner saw himself as a dead man to whom the risen Lord offers the possibility of returning life.
The Lord gives us here a part of his eternal life, and the pain of confession is like a ray of eternal life that enters into the death in which there is a sinner and enlightens and leads to rebirth.
real pain because of sin enters into communication with the light of God, becomes a powerful stimulus to action, to change ¬ tion.
As the pain discourages false, the pain becomes real ¬ tion leads to being: the Christian does not want to be hurt further by the Lord and find the way back, which means the path of conversion.
Some might say: "But what sense does all this talk about pain, when it all comes back like before?". After the confession
back as before?
It 's true?
Only if you have limited faith and love may think this is poor.
may think so only those who look to itself and its inability and forget to look to God and its possibilities. We must remember the words of Jesus: "What is impossible with men are possible with God."
Who is truly sorry for his sin seeks to return to God with all your strength and is committed to fighting for a renewed life, trusting in God's
This confession made monthly or weekly always brings something new. If nothing else, a sincere desire to be close to God and not to tolerate the separation from Him
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