The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be open and offer mercy and compassion to those from whom we are estranged as we welcome them home.
The reading from the Prophet Micah declares God’s Compassion and Steadfast Love.
* [7:8–20] The book concludes with a collection of confident prayers for deliverance, affirmations of faith, and announcements of salvation. Most of these verses bear the marks of use in worship, and probably arose in the exilic or postexilic periods.
* [7:14–17] A prayer that God will care for the people as in ancient days (v. 14) is answered (vv. 15–17) when the Lord promises to do marvelous things. The nations shall be afraid and turn to the Lord.
* [7:18–20] The final lines of the book contain a hymn of praise for the incomparable God, who pardons sin and delights in mercy. Thus the remnant, those left after the exile, is confident in God’s compassion and in the ancient promises sworn to the ancestors. (Micah, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 103 is a Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents the Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother.
* [15:1–32] To the parable of the lost sheep (Lk 15:1–7) that Luke shares with Matthew (Mt 18:12–14), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, Lk 15:8–10; the prodigal son, Lk 15:11–32) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinner. (Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Cindy Costanzo comments that the Father is a representative of our God who is merciful and forgiving. The youngest wayward son is representative of a loved sinner and the elder son is representative of a person who seeks perfection, is privileged, perhaps feels entitled, wants special attention, and at times demands to be recognized or rewarded.
I remind myself of God’s merciful love this Lenten season. I can see myself as both the younger wayward son and the elder entitled son.
As a younger sinner I find I often focus too much on my needs or possessions, monetary value, and fill my days with unending tasks instead of choosing quiet time with Jesus.
As the elder sinner I have many times had feelings of entitlement, sought recognition, wanted special accolades for what I have accomplished.
Today in this Lenten season I pray for forgiveness. I ask Jesus to quiet my soul, help me to pause, and listen intently to Jesus’ message for me today. (Costanzo, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Life through death,” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Did you make it possible for yourselves to merit God's mercy because you turned back to him? If you hadn't been called by God, what could you have done to turn back? Didn't the very One Who called you when you were opposed to Him make it possible for you to turn back? Don't claim your conversion as your own doing. Unless He had called you when you were running away from Him, you would not have been able to turn back." (Commentary on Psalm 84, 8) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 comments that like the older brother, we may tend to approach our heavenly Father based on how “good” we are. We might point to all the things we have done to show our worthiness. But when we approach God in this way, we risk missing out on his mercy. God wants more than a list of good deeds. He wants us to be open to his healing touch. He wants to free us from the sins that have wounded our relationship with him.
We cannot heal this relationship by our own efforts, no matter how hard we try. Healing can only come from the mercy that flows from the cross of Christ. Through that cross, the Father humbly pleads with us every day to receive our inheritance and return to our place in his family.
No one “deserves” God’s mercy, but he offers it anyway. Today in prayer, set aside the tendency to earn God’s approval. Then let his mercy flow from his heart to yours!
“Father, I am your child. Open my heart to receive your mercy, today and always!” (Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that Micah and Isaiah were contemporaries who foretold the restoration of the people to Israel. Micah shows chutzpah reminding God of His Mercy. The Father acts outside the response of the Law to a wayward son forgiving him without perfect contrition thrilled to have him return. Friar Jude notes that when we hear someone has turned from sin we should be thrilled too.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Sikh activist Valarie Kaur who shares practical ways we can welcome strangers and build community based on the actions of the early Sikh leader Mata Khivi (1506–1582).
When we come together to feed each other, care for each other, and uplift each other, we create the conditions for beloved community. We weep, we laugh, we live. As the earth gets hotter, and more of us are endangered, we will need to be braver and more reckless with our love. We will need to create spaces that have never existed before. We will need to practice our humanity. This is how we birth the world to come. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ask the guidance of the Spirit as we contemplate how we can apply the generous forgiveness and compassion of the Father in our lives.
References
Costanzo, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032225.html
Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15?1
Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/03/22/1230928/
Micah, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/micah/7?14
Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Welcoming the Stranger: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/welcoming-the-stranger-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Father, I Have Sinned against Heaven and You. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=mar22
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