Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3So he told them this parable: 11And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; 12and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. 25"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' 28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' 31And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
What touched my Soul
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."
I always though this would be a very good prayer to donwhen we go through fthe sacrament of confession:
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."
God that sees deep in our hearts will known that our words are tue and intentions are honest. Our heart is pure and our soul want desperate to be clean from the faults. He, in His infinit merci, will welcome us in His arms and forgive our failiures, our faults, our falls.
He will welcome us at His table and we will celebrate.
In this parable we can see several parallels with our sinnefull lifes ans I would like to flag several thoughts for your reflection:
- We sinners are represented in the parable by the son that decided leave the house, specially when we get far from God through sin.
- The father is God always looking to receive us in His house again and forgive our faults and our mistakes.
- The brother that stayed home represent those brothers and sisters that need to point out their fingers thinking they are so much better than those sinners over there.
- Once again Jesus flag the fact that He came to celebrate the repent of a sinner. Cure the sick. Forgive and open His arms for the ones that are in pain and need rest in calm waters By rependance and confession.
For last I would urge you to revisit this reading again.
Read it slowly.
Reflect.
Let the words touch your soul.
Maybe, after a period of prayer and meditation you could look for a priest and confess your sins.
After, you can be part of the Lord supper in a mass.
Lord, guide me throught this Lent to rependance and confession of my sins.
Lord, I know I’ve been away from you for so long, but I know you love me. Guide me back to your arms.
Lord, help me to be open to your presence in others today, tomorrow and ever.
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