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b'(Ex.32:7-11,13-14;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.51:3-4,12-13,17,19,Lk.15:18;\\xa0\\xa0 1Tm.1:12-17;\\xa0\\xa0 Lk.15:1-32)\\xa0 \\u201cThe Lord relented in the punishment He had threatened to inflict on His people.\\u201d Redemption is ours, brothers and sisters.\\xa0 Though we are great sinners, the Lord has mercy on us when we turn to Him; for, as Moses interceded for the Israelites in the desert, so Christ Jesus intercedes for us now before the throne of His Father.\\xa0 Indeed, He \\u201ccame into the world to save sinners,\\u201d sinners like you and me. What examples of sinners we have throughout our readings today \\u2013 what examples of great sinners and the greatness, the abundance of God\\u2019s grace.\\xa0 Where shall we begin?\\xa0 In our first reading the people of Israel had fallen into the depths of depravity as they passed through the desert.\\xa0 While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, they were far below, \\u201cmaking for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it.\\u201d\\xa0 To it they sacrificed, and in drunken revelry proclaimed it God.\\xa0 Yet because of Moses\\u2019 intercession the Lord held back His blazing wrath against them.\\xa0 He did not destroy them. In our second reading we find \\u201cthe foremost\\u201d of sinners, the apostle Paul, recognizing his own great guilt as arrogant persecutor of the Church and, in the same breath, witnessing to the manner in which he was \\u201cmercifully treated\\u201d by the Lord, that he might indeed be \\u201can example for those who would come to believe in [Jesus] for everlasting life.\\u201d\\xa0 If the Lord can turn him who was the primary persecutor of Himself and His people into a leading apostle of His Word, how might He not convert our own hearts, or the hearts of any, to Him and to His will? And, of course, in our gospel we have the parable of the prodigal son, he who \\u201csquandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation\\u201d yet was openly received into the waiting arms of the same father whose property he swallowed up when this dissolute child came to his senses and returned to him.\\xa0 The Lord makes so clear in His parable today the great desire God has to take the sinner in His arms, to place Him on His shoulders; indeed, \\u201cthere will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.\\u201d\\xa0 Brothers and sisters, we all have need of repentance, and the Lord welcomes us all. After all this, perhaps our most poignant witness to God\\u2019s forgiveness and grace comes in King David, who has been adulterous and murderous but who cries out to Lord in our psalm, \\u201cThoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.\\u201d\\xa0 His \\u201ccontrite spirit,\\u201d his humble begging is heard by the Lord, as is the repentance of us all.\\xa0 Through the blood of Jesus, all ignorant sinners may be saved. Written, read & chanted, and produced\\xa0by James Kurt. Music: "Wish I\'d Never Done It" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, you welcome poor, repentant sinners into your House with joy. YHWH, have mercy on us poor sinners.\\xa0 In the greatness of your compassion, wipe out our offense.\\xa0 Like the Israelites who made the golden calf in the desert, like David who turned to adultery and murder, like Paul who persecuted your Son with such abandon, we are all your prodigal children.\\xa0 But as you had mercy on all of these, look upon us with kindness as we turn back to you. O LORD, how greatly you desire our repentance.\\xa0 What great joy it brings you when we confess our guilt.\\xa0 For this you sent your Son to suffer and die; to save our souls you did not spare His life.\\xa0 And so, as we listen to His teaching, as we hear His call to penitence, our contrite heart causes you to rejoice that you might have us home again. Forgive us our sins, dear God, and help us to forgive others.\\xa0 In this is your will fulfilled; in this the blood of your Son bears fruit, and we are redeemed.'