Fourth Sunday of Lent
Processional Hymn - From Ashes to the Living Font
From ashes to the living font
Your Church must journey, Lord,
Baptised in grace, in grace renewed
By your most holy word.
Through fasting, prayer, and charity,
Your voice speaks deep within,
Returning us to ways of truth
And turning us from sin.
When we repent, you run to us,
Forgiving arms spread wide;
You celebrate when we return,
And come home to your side.
From ashes to the living font
Your Church must journey still,
Through cross and tomb to Easter joy,
in Spirit-fire fulfilled.
1st Reading – Joshua 5:9a, 10-12
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”
While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.
On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.
On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.
No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 34
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times; praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the LORD my soul shall make its boast; the humble shall hear and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me, together let us praise his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; from my terrors he set me free.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look toward him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the LORD heard, and rescued him from his distress.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
2nd Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Gospel – Luke 15:1-3,11-32
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.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
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.’”
Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish
Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.
Amen.
Offertory Hymn - Let Us Return to the Lord
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord,
For God’s appearing is as sure as the dawn.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
God will come just as the faithful showers fall,
Just as the spring rains that water the earth.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
God desires steadfast love, not sacrifice,
Knowledge of God in stead of offerings.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
You who are torn, God will heal you;
You who are crushed, God will bind you up.
Communion Hymn - May We Have the Mind of Christ
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
Though he was in the form of God,
He emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave.
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
And, one like us in human form,
He humbled himself, obedient to death on a cross.
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
Therefore our God has raised him high,
And given to him the name that is above every name.
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
May we have the mind of Christ,
Who emptied himself, obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
Recessional Hymn - Again We Keep This Solemn Fast
Again we keep this solemn fast,
A gift of faith from ages past,
This Lent which binds us, lovingly
To faith and hope and charity.
The law and prophets from of old
In figured ways this Lent foretold,
Which Christ, all ages’ Lord and Guide,
In these last days has sanctified.
More sparing, therefore, let us make
The words we speak, the food we take,
Our sleep, our laughter, ev’ry sense;
Learn peace through holy penitence.
Let us avoid each harmful way
That lures the careless mind astray;
By watchful prayer our spirits free
From scheming of the Enemy.
We pray, O blessed Three in One,
Our God while endless ages run,
That this, our Lent of forty days,
May bring us growth and give you praise.
