March 6, 2016 - Fourth Sunday of Lent

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/joshua/5and9 JOS 5and9A, 10-12 The LORD said to Joshua, Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,they celebrated the Passoveron the evening of the fourteenth of the month.On the day after the Passover,they ate of the produce of the landin the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.On that same day after the Passover,on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.No longer was there manna for the Israelites,who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34and2 PS 34and2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (9a)Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I will bless the LORD at all timeshis praise shall be ever in my mouth.Let my soul glory in the LORDthe lowly will hear me and be glad. R.Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Glorify the LORD with me,let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered meand delivered me from all my fears. R.Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,and your faces may not blush with shame.When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,and from all his distress he saved him. R.Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Reading 2 and//www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5:17 2 COR 5:17-21 Brothers and sistersandWhoever is in Christ is a new creationandthe old things have passed awaybehold, new things have come.And all this is from God,who has reconciled us to himself through Christand given us the ministry of reconciliation,namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,not counting their trespasses against themand entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.So we are ambassadors for Christ,as if God were appealing through us.We implore you on behalf of Christ,be reconciled to God.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. Verse Before The Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/15:18 LK 15:18 I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to himandFather, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/15:1 LK 15:1-3, 11-32 Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”So to them Jesus addressed this parableand A man had two sons, 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.After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongingsand set off to a distant countrywhere he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.When he had freely spent everything,a severe famine struck that country,and he found himself in dire need.So he hired himself out to one of the local citizenswho sent him to his farm to tend the swine.And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,but nobody gave him any.Coming to his senses he thought,‘How many of my father’s hired workershave more than enough food to eat,but here am I, dying from hunger.I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.I no longer deserve to be called your sontreat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’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.His son said to him,‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against youI no longer deserve to be called your son.’But his father ordered his servants,‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on himput a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.Then let us celebrate with a feast,because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life againhe was lost, and has been found.’Then the celebration began.Now the older son had been out in the fieldand, on his way back, as he neared the house,he heard the sound of music and dancing.He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.The servant said to him,‘Your brother has returnedand your father has slaughtered the fattened calfbecause he has him back safe and sound.’He became angry,and when he refused to enter the house,his father came out and pleaded with him.He said to his father in reply,‘Look, all these years I served youand not once did I disobey your ordersyet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.But when your son returnswho swallowed up your property with prostitutes,for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’He said to him,‘My son, you are here with me alwayseverything I have is yours.But now we must celebrate and rejoice,because your brother was dead and has come to life againhe was lost and has been found.’”