This weekend is one of joy: we celebrate Mother’s day – a chance to appreciate all those who perform a mothering role within our lives. We appreciate all that they do for us. The day has traditionally been celebrated on the Sunday closest to the Feast of the Annunciation – the time we celebrate Mary (the mother of us all) being told by the Angel Gabriel that she was going to give birth to the Saviour of the World.
This Sunday is also Laetare Sunday, meaning rejoice. It comes from the words of the opening of the Mass, ‘Rejoice O Jerusalem’. The vestments that the priest will wear are pink. It is a day of hope, with Easter in sight!
The Gospel for Sunday is also one of the most well known parables of Jesus – the Prodigal Son. This also directly linked with our Reconciliation Service and individual Reconciliations this week, in which the theme was ‘Come back to me’.
In this parable of a son realising that he has squandered his father’s money, there is a line that sums up how ecstatic the father is at his son coming back home –the older brother is upset that his wayward brother has received such a wonderful welcome, but his father says:
‘It is only right we should celebrate and rejoice. Because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found’
The Father here is God and we are the son who followed the wrong path. Jesus is telling us that if we are truly sorry for the mistakes we have made, we are forgiven; but also, like the father who waited anxiously for his son, God will wait for us as long as is needed.
‘Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply in our new life?’
Here is a lovely prayer from our Fronter Reflection Room, posted by Erin:
Dear Loving God,
We pray for peace and help as the COVID restrictions lift; and for those who have fled Ukraine, those who are still scared to leave and those with nowhere to go.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
God Bless
Mrs Mackie