*REFLECTION FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME* *YEAR C* 

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my presence and turn from their wicked ways, I will listen from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land" (2 Ch. 7:14). The above Scriptural passage summarizes the message of the twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. God's unconditional mercy and forgiveness run through the readings. 

   With three different parables in the Gospel (Luke 15: 1-32), -the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son- Jesus teaches the Scribes and Pharisees of God's desire for our good and describes the joy that is experienced when a sinner turns and embraces God's mercy and forgiveness. 

   In the first reading (Ex. 32: 7-11), God's divine anger was ameliorated when Moses pleaded on behalf of the Israelites who strayed to worship the "golden calf", forgetting God's goodness in their life. 

   Dear friends, the assurance of hope and restoration is what God is offering us today. Like the prodigal son, we need to "come to our senses" and return back to God with a repentant heart. No matter how far away we have gone from God, God still keeps the door open in wait for our home-coming.

  I pray as we journey in life today, like St. Paul, let us acknowledge God's abundant mercy (1 Tm. 1: 12-17), and avoid being unforgiving like the prodigal son's elder brother. Unforgiveness is like cancer, if it is not totaly eradicated, it will eventually end our life. As we are drawn to God's mercy for the forgiveness of our sins, may we search out those whom we mostly need to forgive. Forgiveness brings freedom! Have a happy and forgiving-full Sunday!