God our Father, by your gifts to us on earth we already share in your life. In all we do, guide us to the light of your kingdom. Amen
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 returnswho 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.’
Today's gospel is a powerful reminder that Lent is not about what we are doing for God, but what God is doing for us! It describes a God who "delights in clemency" not judgment. A God who cares not about what we have done, only that we are home. A God who says to us "everything I have is yours."
Today's Gospel is a very familiar story to us. The Pharisees and scribes are complaining that Jesus welcomes sinners, and actually sits down to eat with them, so Jesus tells them a story about God, about just how much God wants everyone to come home, no matter who they are or what they have done. Even someone who has done the most outrageous thing – one who demands his inheritance from his father before he has died, and who then spends it all on momentary pleasures and self gratification…and then has the audacity to try to come home!!
I think when the younger son came near his father’s house he waited, wanting to go all the way to the house, but fearful of rejection. But he asked himself where else can I go? He had spent everything and was living with pigs. We too want so much to come home to God, but we are also scared. “What will he ask of me?” Or “What I did was so awful, I can’t face the punishment that is sure to come, I prefer the company of my shame.” But we see in Jesus’ story that God runs to meet us and has a feast to celebrate our return. God is watching for us, calling to us, actively looking for us, seeking for ways to draw us in and bring us home!
God of infinite love, you shower us with limitless gifts in our lives. In our every thought and action today guide us to the bright and loving light of your kingdom. Help us to be aware of the many ways you allow us to share in your life so intimately. Thank you for the gifts you have placed in our lives. Let us be grateful every moment of this day. Amen
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