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" . . . “He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'" (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030224.cfm
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is perhaps the crowning jewel among the many parables of Jesus. The parable is given in the context of the complaint against Jesus: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Of course, the Eucharist is the celebration of the One who welcomes sinners and invites us to the Table. And we ask the prayers of the Virgin Mary: Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saturday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lent, March 2
