Reflection for Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Today's Mass Readings

As the liturgy opens today, we hear the words of Psalm 145:8-9 in the opening antiphon: “The Lord is kind and full of compassion… abounding in mercy.” Mercy is the very essence of our God. In the first reading from the book of the prophet Micah (7:14-15, 18-20), we hear, “Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin… who… delights rather in clemency?… You will cast to the depth all of our sins…” He has sworn this faithfulness to our ancestors from days of old. The refrain of the responsorial psalm again echoes this divine compassion: “The Lord is kind and merciful” (Ps. 103:8a).

But the culmination of today’s Lenten message is found in the Gospel of St. Luke in the story of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15). The word “prodigal” means “wastefully extravagant.” While the term aptly applies to the son who so quickly squandered his inheritance on passing pleasures, it is perhaps even more appropriate in describing the forgiveness and mercy of the father. What seems like “wastefulness” to the older brother is, in the eyes of Jesus, an expression of his Father’s lavish love and boundless compassion.

The communion antiphon, drawn from the Gospel, leaves us with a challenge to ponder throughout the rest of our day: “You must rejoice, my son, for your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found” (Lk. 15:32). Why do we find it so difficult to rejoice when another person has been forgiven for wrongdoing?

Reflection: When was the last time that you experienced the extravagant mercy of God in your life? When was the last time that you felt envious of someone else being the recipient of that same pardon?

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB