"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Thank goodness that he does. He has given us such a great inheritance. Haven't we squandered it? We certainly want our Father's wealth. We want all the treasures and blessings he offers. We want this without letting him act as our Father. We want this without living our whole lives in his presence. We can't bear to have him watch, knowing that he sees every selfish use of what he gives us. But even though we've freely spent everything he has given us and find ourselves in the famine of pride all is not lost.
"He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever."
He will again show his wonders "[a]s in the days when you came from the land of Egypt". We will again be moved to the wonder and awe befitting our Father. He is kind and merciful, and treads our guilt underfoot.
This can be so if we just return to him. Even as we begin to accuse ourselves before him he will run to embrace us. He will tell the angels:
"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.'"
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.'"
And if we are the elder son, watching the younger come home, let us not be jealous. Let us be grateful to a Father so generous. All of his blessings have been ours all along even if we have begun to take them for granted. Let us celebrate as more and more of our brothers are welcomed back to his house and let us see his blessings anew through their eyes.
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