God always forgives, It is we who are tired of asking for forgiveness, but He always forgives. He tells us that God is the Father who not only greets us anew, but also rejoices and celebrates for his Son, who returned home having squandered all his possessions.
We are that son and It is touching to think of how much He loves us and the Father is always waiting. But in the same parable there is also the eldest son who falls into a crisis before this Father. And this can also lead us into a crisis.
Fact We also have this eldest son and we are at least partially inclined to agree with him (…) Whoever has a heart adapted to God, when he sees a person’s repentance, no matter how serious his mistakes, rejoices.
“When we pray, God opens our eyes, renews and transforms our hearts, heals our wounds.” The Word of God gives us deep knowledge and an opportunity for reflection. Below we share the readings Saturday, March 22, 2025, according to the Vatican.
Reading from Micah’s Prophecy
Micah 7:14-15. 18-20
Lord Our God, feed your people with your laborers, to the flock of your inheritance, which lives alone among weeds and wild shrubs. They will shepherd in Bashan and Gilead, as in the old days, as when we came out of Egypt and showed us our miracles.
¿That God is like you who takes away wickedness and you do not notice the rebellion of the survivors of Israel? You won’t hold your anger forever because you rejoice in being merciful.
You will again sympathize with us, crush our wickedness with your feet, throw our crimes into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob and merciful to Abraham, as thou hast sworn unto our fathers in old, O Lord our God.
Readings from the Gospel of Luke
Luke 15:1-3. 11-32
At that time, tax collectors and sinners came to Jesus to listen to him. So the Pharisees and scribes murmured to one another, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ And he divided the goods between them.
Not a few days later, the youngest son, having gathered all his possessions, went to a distant country and there squandered his fate, living decisively. When everything was wasted, that region was hit by a great famine and it began to suffer from need. So he went to ask for work from a resident of that country, who sent him to his fields to take care of pigs. He wanted to immerse himself in the acorns that the pigs ate, but they did not allow him to eat them.
Then he began to think and said to himself, ‘How many laborers in my father’s house have bread, and I am dying of hunger here! I will get up, go back to my father, and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Receive me as one of your laborers.’
He immediately went to his father’s house. He was still far away when his father saw him and was deeply moved. She ran up to him and, with her hands on her neck, covered him with kisses. The boy said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the richest garment and put it on; put a ring on your toe and sandals on your feet; Bring a fattening calf and kill it. Let us eat and feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life, He was lost and we found him.” And the banquet began.
The eldest son was outside, and when he returned, he came to the house and heard music and songs. Then he called one of the servants and asked what it was. He answered, ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf, that he might have recovered it safely and soundly.’ The older brother was angry and did not want to go.
Then the father went out and begged him to come in; but he answered, ‘I have served you so long, never obeying your command, and you have never given me a single child to eat with my friends.’ But yes, your son is coming, who has squandered your goods on bad women, and you are ordering the fat calf to be killed.’
The father answered, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because This brother of yours was dead and has come backa word for life, He was lost, and we found him.'”
