The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030715.cfm) reminds me that God is always waiting for us to return to Him.
The gospel tells the very familiar story of the prodigal son. OF course, it shows us God’s love and mercy, forgiving us when we return to him. The first reading echoes this as we are reminded that God is ready and willing to forgive us, and that he does not delight in punishing us. But what struck me more today is the fact that the father was waiting for his son to return home.
Everytime we walk away from God, He would always wait for us and readily embrace us as we humbly go home.
The father did not just continue with his life forgetting his son. He did not hold a grudge or grumble with his son leaving him. He did not curse the son or forgot all about him. The gospel says that while he was still far off, his father caught sight of him – meaning the father was waiting all along for his return. The father knows, and hopes, that the son will come to his senses and humbly return to him.
God is that father to us.
We may not do something that radical in our lives, but everytime we sin, everytime we ignore God and do things our way, everytime we pass the opportunity to do good to others, we hurt God as well. We run away from God as well. Every time we give in to temptation or put God on the backseat of our lives, we do that to God as well. Today, we are reminded that like the father, God is always there, waiting for us. He is always there waiting for us to come to our senses. He is always there and will come run to us when he sees the smallest intention and decision to come back to him. And when he forgives us and brings us back to his fold, there will be no ill feelings towards us, and he would gladly take us back and continue to give us what he would have wanted to give us had we not run away.
May we be moved to come back to God, no matter how far or near we have run away from him.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to rest and reflect. Thank you for your love and forgiveness. Sorry for the times I choose myself or other things instead of you. Sorry for hurting you and running away from you Lord, I come to you today with a humble and contrite heart. I come to you truly sorry for my sins, asking for your forgiveness. Help me in my resolve to choose you and live for you always. Amen.
Blessed weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
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March 7, 2015
Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary: 235
Reading 1 Mi 7:14-15, 18-20
Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland,
in the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old;
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt
and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us,
treading underfoot our guilt?
You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.
Responsorial Psalm PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Verse Before the Gospel Lk 15:18
I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Gospel Lk 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.
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