11/03/2023

The readings today are a complete summary of the teachings found in the Old and New Testaments, the  revelations God has made of Himself to the Human Race.

The response to the psalm "The Lord is compassion and Love" tell us directly what our being in its freedom has to strive for here on Earth. Father Son and Holy Spirit delight in showing mercy and we also can find no greater delight, in this world, than when we sincerely hold fast to that compassion for us and share it with all our neighbours.

God is infinity of love. He does not dole  it out sparingly. He does not give out ration books from which we have our ticket stamped every time we draw on his Mercy. He is the Ever-greater who knows every thing and wants only good for all his children. 

The father's non-conditional love displayed in this morning's familiar parable was too much for the eldest son to instantly accept as being just. We are all able to take our place in Our Father's love for granted and get on with our lives in complacency. We can forget that our Creator also has rights and that he can do good things for whom he pleases. He went through the tortures of Holy Week to provide on earth a visible source of his Loving Mercy. 

The pain of humanity is not an unknown quantity to our God and the Grace of the Sacraments was purchased by pain that is unimaginable in Son, Jesus the Christ emptied and abandoned, "Eli, Eli lama Sabachthani," on Calvary.

How can we repay such a gift?

Dear Lord, keep me from the envy that makes me jealous of your gifts to others. I am responsible for my own soul and must follow you into loving all. I have to wish good for all the World that each and every soul might know your loving mercy as did the "Prodigal" and I too on all the occasions, vaguely remembered by me, but known absolutely by you. May Mary who held the corpse of Jesus continue with all the souls in heaven to implore the mercy of God for the struggling ones on earth and for the penitents forgiven but still paying the just amount of penance in Purgatory.