3 March 2018 - house of blessing

Today's Readings (Audio)

Let us return to the Father's house. Let us not wander in search of satisfaction. The risk is to not realize that all the Father has is ours when we choose to live with him. In not realizing that we may choose to leave looking for more. Or perhaps we stay, but we hold a grudge, not realizing the blessings which are ours.

My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.

Let us remain with the Father, rejoicing that all he has is ours. This attitude of thankfulness will prevent us from holding a grudge when brothers and sisters return from a life of dissipation. Let us learn to celebrate when brothers and sisters return to join us again. Without thankfulness, without knowing what the Father does for us, we hold it against others when we see them blessed, especially since it is clear that they haven't earned that blessing.

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.

We see the magnanimous and unmerited love of the Father. When we don't realize how much we receive from and depend on that same love we often get upset when we see others receive it. But again, we need to realize more what we already have. We need to plant ourselves more firmly in the Father's house. We need to not let his blessings simply sit on the tables and the shelves. We need to recognize that these blessings are ours and put them to work in our life.

For both those that wander and those who forget to be thankful there is a God who is ready to forgive and who delights in clemency and compassion.

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.

There is a shepherd who longs to keep his sheep in one flock. He longs to feed the  flock of his inheritance. Let us neither wander from nor fail to appreciate his love. Let us avail ourselves of the food with which he feeds us in Bashan and Gilead. Let us see the wonderful signs he shows us.

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.