Saturday of the Second Week of Lent Year 1 2023
The callout culture often lacks a place for repentance and restoration to the family, but Micah says that such restoration is the heart of God and the parable of the Prodigal Son show the father restoring the repentant son to the family while the older son still wants vengeance because he does not know he is a son, or better, what a son is. We need to show the heart of the father.
Title
Outline
I get plenty of references to the call-out culture
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage
We see this in the prodigal son narrative
So, Sisters, that is the teaching for us
Readings
FIRST READING
Micah 7:14–15, 18–20
14 Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your heritage,
That lives apart in a woodland,
in the midst of an orchard.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old;
15 As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.
18 Who is a God like you, who removes guilt
and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
but instead delights in mercy,
19 And will again have compassion on us,
treading underfoot our iniquities?
You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins;
20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and loyalty to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our ancestors
from days of old.
RESPONSE
Psalm 103:8a
8 Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy.
PSALM
Psalm 103:1–4, 9–12
1 Of David.
Bless the LORD, my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, my soul;
and do not forget all his gifts,
3 Who pardons all your sins,
and heals all your ills,
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
and crowns you with mercy and compassion,
9 He will not always accuse,
and nurses no lasting anger;
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins merit,
nor requited us as our wrongs deserve.
11 For as the heavens tower over the earth,
so his mercy towers over those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Luke 15:18
18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
GOSPEL
Luke 15:1–3, 11–32
1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them he addressed this parable.
11 Then he said, “A man had two sons, 12 and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. 17 Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 22 But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. 25 Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27 The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ ”
Notes
SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2023 | LENT
SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY
First Reading Micah 7:14–15, 18–20
Response Psalm 103:8a
Psalm Psalm 103:1–4, 9–12
Gospel Acclamation Luke 15:18
Gospel Luke 15:1–3, 11–32