[ Today's Readings ]
Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.
And yet we have no inheritance apart from you. But because we want to spend the good things you create and give on "a life of dissipation" and until we have "freely spent everything" we ask to take your blessings and run. In effect, we wish you dead.
But wait, we say. Not me. I'm a Christian.
Even so, don't we have parts of our lives that are unrelated to our faith? Don't we have pursuits and desires with no relation to the kingdom? And don't we want these things to go well and be blessed? We have these spheres of our lives which are "just ours" and so we don't bother to seek you in them. And perhaps these spheres become very large. And perhaps our "God sphere" becomes small by comparison. At such times your mercy allows us to experience our own lack of sufficiency.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
We run short on that which truly nourishes us because we are too busy pursuing the wrong things. Yet you only allow us to do so in order that we might realize it and return to you, the source of life.
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.”’
We expect you to hold our mistakes against us. We expect you to treat us differently forever after. But we are surprised to discover the extent of your mercy.
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?
We expect to find a master or a boss and instead return to the open arms of the 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.
We discovery "the sound of music and dancing" and that the fattened calf is slaughtered for the feast. We discover that our inheritance is truly here with the Father. We need never go off to seek joy elsewhere. We pursuits which were formerly "just ours" can now be part of our "God sphere" instead. Jesus, you can be the center of our whole lives, not just our work in the fields.
My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
Jesus, don't let us become so myopic about working in the field that we forget to involve you in all that we do. And when this does happen despite our best intentions welcome us back again with your great mercy. Give us life anew.
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.
Bring us back, LORD, who on this day have strayed from the care of the shepherd who loves us. As in days of old "show us wonderful signs" of your love for us.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
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