DREAM CENTER

“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.’” – Luke 15:22

Of course, all of them would think that he has lost his mind. But over time, person after person became just as he had said! The most notorious gang members, drug dealers, and prostitutes have turned their lives around. These are the people now running his church and his rehabilitation institution called the Dream Center in Los Angeles.

What is Matthew Barnett’s secret? He doesn’t call people for what they are. They already know that. By faith, he calls them for what can they become!

For a change, instead of shaming people into changing, why don’t we do like Jesus did? Let’s see them beyond their faults, addictions, and bad habits, and tell them what they can become! Jon Escoto (faithworkjon@gmail.com)

Reflect: Don’t keep a safe distance from people who are lost. Call them back to God’s love and tell them what can they become.

Father, may I put on the robe, the ring, and the sandals of Your love on someone today.

 

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

Moses must have been bitterly disappointed when the people deserted the Lord and began to worship a golden calf. However, he does not abandon them and intercedes for them before God. Moses’ intercession leads to God giving them another chance. Unfortunately, this is often the case in Israel’s history as well as our own. Let us grow in faithfulness to the Lord and turn away from the false gods in our lives.

Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14

7 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. 8 They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshipping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ 9 I see how stiff-necked this people is,” continued the Lord to Moses. 10 “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.” 11 But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying, “Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’” 14 So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.

PSALM 

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19

R: I will rise and go to my father.

3 Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 4 Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 12 A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 13 Cast me not out from your presence, and your holy spirit take not from me. (R) 17 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. 19 My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)

2nd READING

Paul is not afraid to tell people about his checkered past and his attitude toward Christianity. His persecution of the faith adds power to his testimony and story of conversion. Paul’s encounter with Jesus must have been strong enough to draw him away from his anti-Christian beliefs and make him one of the most effective preachers of the Gospel.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 Beloved: I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. 13 I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. 14 Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. 16 But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 17 To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL

God does not give up; He is not in the business of giving up. Francis Thompson calls Him the “Hound of Heaven” Who will search for its prey until He finds it. God finds ways to draw us closer to Him, more deeply into the experience of His loving mercy so that we will be captured by His love. Shielded by His love, it will be difficult for sin and the world to distract us and draw us away from a life of faith and discipleship.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Luke 15:1-10 (or Luke 15:1-32)

1 Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 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. 4 “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy, 6 and upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 8 “Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

think: “God loves you more in a moment than anyone could in a lifetime.” (Worshipgifs.tumblr)

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Read the Bible in one year - Psalm 106-110

 

 

THE FATHER WAITS

The Gospel today is the classic story of the Prodigal Son. Not only considered as the most-talked-about New Testament drama, it is one of the most powerful and moving stories in the Bible that continues to convert the hearts of men and women.

The story begins when the youngest son left his family, took his share of property, and wasted it away. After realizing what he did, he wanted to go back home despite the embarrassment. His embarrassment was his own making, which made it easier for him to move on. What I find intriguing is how the father restored his son’s dignity even if it would mean embarrassment. Luke 15:20 says, “And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

The father did not give up on his son. The neighbors must have pitied the old man as he sat and watched so many sunsets pass by. He must have waited for his son every day, such that when he saw him a long way off, he recognized him from afar. He brimmed with love. Seeing his son dressed in tattered worn-out clothes, with his health barely able to make him stand, evoked a fatherly compassion. The father ran—an unprecedented act of cultural embarrassment, which a Jewish man would not normally do. He ran, disregarding what other people would say, to get to his son before he entered the village because if the community discovers that he lost his inheritance, they would have to perform a kezazah ceremony—a shameful, humiliating rite disowning a person. They would break a large pot in front of him and shout, “You are now cut off from your people!”

The father embraces his long-lost son. Is this not what God did for us too? He took all the shame for us. He took all the embarrassment to give us back our dignity. And He waits for our return. Fr. Haluendo Amit, OCD

------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

The Father is waiting for you in the sacraments. Will you meet Him?

 

Thank You for still accepting me and embracing me—no matter how many times I strayed away from You, my God. I love You. Amen.

Today, I pray for: __________________________________