THE GOSPEL
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32The Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“this man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Jesus,
are you a prodigal son?
Did you waste
your life on
us?
Or:
God, are you
the prodigal father,
overflowing with love,
who runs to meet us, embraces,
and kisses us, killing the fatted calf for us?
Prodigal Son, Prodigal Father, and Prodigal Holy Spirit,
we are filled with awe and wonder at the love you squander on us.
THE FIRST READING
Joshua 5:9a, 10-12
On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the
produce of the land, the manna ceased.
O God,
caring for them all the way,
you brought the Israelites safely home.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
you bring us all home
through your son,
the Christ,
Jesus.
Thank you for the grace you pour
into our hearts.
Please walk with our Ukrainian brothers
and sisters and bring them
safely home
too.
THE SECOND READING
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
The poet says,
“I am all at once what Christ is,
since he was what
I am.”*
We know also,
that we are your body now.
We are your hands, feet, voice and heart now.
Let us help bring about a resurrection
to all that is still dead.
* G. M. Hopkins, “That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire.”