Breaking the Word

2^nd week in Lent, Saturday – 11^th March 2023 – Luke 15, 1-3.11-32

Journey Home begins from within

Jesus uses this parable in response to the Pharisees and scribes who are murmuring about His eating with tax collectors and sinners. He narrates this in order to explain His mission to the sinful people who seek to return to God. And He shows how He and His Abba-Father rejoice when a sinful individual turns away from sin and turns back to God. The climax is that God throws a party to celebrate the return of wayward offspring. Here, Father is pictured as anxiously waiting for his younger son’ return. When in the midst of mire and filth, the younger son comes to his senses. There are four parts to the speech that he prepares: 1) An address – “Father”; 2) A confession – “I have sinned”; 3) Contrition – “I am no longer worthy”; and 4) A Petition – “treat me as one of your hired servants”. The direct confession in his interior monologue confirms the sincerity of his intent. His journey home begins with coming to himself and ends with his surrender to the Father. It means learning to say Abba-Father once again, putting his trust in the heavenly Father, returning to the Father’s house, and falling in the Father’s arms.

2^nd week in Lent, Friday – 10^th March 2023 – Genesis 37,3-4.12-13.17-28; Mt 21,33-43.45-46

Father’s Favoured for Salvation

The first reading relates how Joseph’s brothers plotted against him because he is favoured by their father. The brothers make plans to kill him and end up selling him for twenty pieces of silver. There is a strong parallel between the stories of Joseph and Jesus in today’s readings. Both were favoured sons of the fathers. Both were despised by other members of their people. Both had visions of how they would lead others to a better life. Both had death plots planned against them. Both were sold by the people close to them for pieces of silver. Both were imprisoned because of false witnesses. Both gave hope to those who were oppressed. Both brought prosperity and life to others by being raised up to positions of glory. Both Joseph and Jesus are, in the words of Psalm 118, “the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone.” Joseph brought material well being to his people. Jesus brought true spiritual salvation through his death and resurrection.