4th Sunday of Lent

Date: March 14, 2010

First Reading (Joshua 5: 9-12)
A reading from the book of Joshua.
The Lord stated to Joshua: "Today I have removed from you the shame of Egypt." The Israelites encamped in Gilgal where they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the following day, they ate of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain on that very day. And from that day on when they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was no more manna for the Israelites, and that year they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan.

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5: 17-21)
A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: The one who is in Christ is a new creature. For him the old things have passed away; a new world has come. All this is the work of God who in Christ reconciled us to himself, and who entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. Because in Christ God reconciled the world with himself, no longer taking into account their trespasses and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of Christ, as if God himself makes an appeal to you through us. Let God reconcile you; this we ask you in the name of Christ. He had no sin, but God made him bear our sin, so that in him we might share the holiness of God.

Gospel (Luke 15: 1-3 and 11-32)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say. But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering. "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Therefore, Jesus addressed this parable: "There was a man with two sons. The younger son proposed to the father: 'Give me my share of the estate.' Thus, the father divided his property between them. Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth in loose living. Having spent everything, he was hard pressed when a severe famine broke out in that land. So he hired himself out to a well-to-do citizen of that place and was sent to work on a pig farm. So famished was he that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but nobody offered him anything. Finally coming to his senses, he stated: 'How many of my father's hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father and state to him: Father, I have sinned against God and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of your hired servants.' With that thought in mind, he set off for his father's house. He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet his son, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son stated: 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son...' His father did not hear that. Instead, the father turned to his servants: 'Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.' And the celebration commenced. Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about. The servant answered: 'Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he was ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf.' The elder son became angry and refused to go inside. His father came out and pleaded with him. The indignant son stated: 'Look, I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. Then when this son of yours returns after squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened calf for him.' The father stated: "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. he was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.'"