Reflection on the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sept. 15, 2019

This week we hear more stories in the Gospel while Jesus is out preaching of the Kingdom of God. We hear about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son – or the Prodigal Son as we call it. Lots of good scripture to think about! The basic idea – rejoicing when something is found that was lost. Our God rejoices when we go to Him; He forgives us; He has mercy on us; He welcomes us. Even in our first reading from Exodus, we hear of God’s mercy: “So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.” (Exodus 32:14)

We gather together singing of this mercy in our opening song, “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”. It prefigures what we’re going to hear in our readings. Some great lines to ponder or pray on: “There’s a kindness in his justice which is more than liberty.” and “For the love of God is broader than the measures of our mind.”

At the preparation of the altar and gifts, we sing “Where My Father Lives”. It’s a newer composition from 2003 and pulls its text from various Biblical passages. It reminds us of God’s mercy and love – He has a place for each of us and He wants us to be with Him. He even tells us the path to take to get there! “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Point blank. No questions or guessing. Can’t get any clearer.

Our first Communion song, “Our Blessing Cup” is taken from the Com- munion Antiphon for the day: The chalice of blessing that we bless is a communion in the Blood of Christ; and the bread we break is a sharing in the Body of the Lord.

Our second Communion song, “Come, Follow Me”, once again speaks of how to follow Christ to our Heavenly Father:

Come follow in these footsteps; I’ll lead you gently home.
No shelter, food nor money will you need upon this road...
Come, walk across the water; place all your faith in me.
Cast all your doubt behind you to the wind and raging sea...
Come, follow me and live; do not be afraid.
Believe and trust in me; your faith will give you strength.
Leave all your fears behind you; let your heart be free,
For I will be your guide, oh, come and follow me.

Our concluding song, “City of God”, once again sends out into the world to share the Good News that we have just heard. “Let us build the city of God. May our tears be turned into dancing! For the Lord, our light and our love, has turned the night into day!” The song speaks of God’s mercy, of His resurrection over death, of being the light for the world. Let us remember His mercy throughout this week as we take His love out into the world.