"We are a community of disciples inspired by the Holy Spirit to be living witnesses for transformation in Christ to bring about a world of justice, human development and true peace."

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide
March 30, 2025 (Cycle C, Yr. I) – 4th Sunday of Lent
Community Word: God's boundless love brings salvation to mankind in Jesus Christ.
Theme: We receive God’s boundless love when we repent of our wrongdoings and are reconciled with God.
Promise: “You are here with me always, everything I have is yours.” (Lk 15:31)

Reflection:
Our theme for this week is – We receive God’s boundless love when we repent of our wrongdoings and are reconciled with God.
In the 2nd Reading, St Paul in illustrating the life in Christ says, “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come,” (2 Cor 5:17). To be in Christ is to be reconciled with the Father and to one another. This passage highlights our role as ministers of reconciliation. As written in 2 Cor 5:20, “We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” As shepherds in our beloved community, we are ambassadors, representing Christ in our community and the society we live in. Our thoughts, actions, words, decisions, and lifestyles should reflect Christ's ways and teachings.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son sends a powerful message of great hope and assurance of God’s immense love and infinite mercy to all His children. It symbolizes God’s patience and loving embrace for all of us sinners. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Indeed, it is a manifestation of the ultimate love of the Father, a love beyond compare by allowing His Begotten Son to suffer and die for us sinners. In this season of Lent, we should take to heart this supreme love of the Father and the sacrifice of the Son.

In the parable, the actions of both sons must have brought deep pain to the father. The younger son manifested selfishness, insensitivity, and ingratitude to the father by his actions. On the other hand, the older son resents his father's gracious welcome, rejoicing for the return of his wayward brother by his resentment, display of envy, bitterness, and self-righteousness. Seeing his father welcoming back his brother with love instead of condemnation, he was consumed with anger and refused to be part of the celebration prepared by the father for his returning brother. Indeed, it was a lost opportunity, which could have been a joyous event that would have completed the father’s joy.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are never asked why we sinned. We are not interrogated about who we are, nor are we condemned for our past mistakes. Yet, in our own lives, because of pride and self-righteousness, we often impose conditions and limitations on when and how we choose to forgive and love our brothers and sisters. Perhaps this is a question we must all reflect on: If we were the older son would we reject our Father’s invitation because of our conceit and self-righteousness? Or would we humble ourselves and obey His will?

In His ministry, Jesus never shunned sinners. Instead, He dined with them, embraced them, and extended forgiveness to them. Jesus expects the same of us. He loves us with no conditions and no limitations. He taught His disciples to pray and instructed them to forgive those who sinned against them just as they asked the Father to forgive their sins.

As we approach the Paschal Triduum, may we be able to examine our ways and seek the Lord's powerful touch, to lead us to decide to love and forgive, even when loving and forgiving is really difficult to do. A decision to always love and forgive brings us to God's promise, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours,” (Lk 15:31).

Prayer:
Father in heaven, we thank You for the assurance of Your welcoming embrace every time we come to You to repent and ask for Your forgiveness. Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us, a miserable sinner. Thank you for sacrificing and dying for us to redeem us, manifesting to us the hope to experience the embrace of the Father. We give glory and praise to You, Father God, Jesus, our Redeemer, and Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier. Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, pray for us that we may always have a holy life. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. In Jesus’ parable, both sons have caused pain to their father. Which son can you identify with?
2. How can I be a better ambassador of reconciliation at home, at work, and within the community?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
March 30, 2025 (Sun) - Jos 5:9-12/Ps 34:2-7/ 2Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
March 31, 2025 (Mon) - Is 65:17-21/Ps 30:2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13/Jn 4:43-54
April 1, 2025 (Tue) - Ez 47:1-9/Ps 46:2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9/Jn 5:1-16
April 2, 2025 (Wed) - Is 49:8-15/Ps 145:8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18/Jan 5:17-30
April 3, 2025 (Thu) - Ex 32:7-14/Ps 106:19, 20, 21, 22, 23/Jn 5:31-47
April 4, 2025 (Fri) - Wis 2:1, 12-22/Ps 34:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
April 5, 2025 (Sat) - Jer 11:18-20/Ps 7:2-3, 9-10, 11-12/Jn 7:-40-53

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”

Weekly: Theme, Promise, Order, Direction and Prophesies (bldworld.org)