What a beautiful first reading we have today from Michah 7. The prophet says, “You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins.” When we confess our sins and receive absolution, God does just that. He wipes the slate clean; He casts all our sins into His ocean of mercy.
The Gospel reading today from Luke 15 is probably a very familiar story – the prodigal son. A man has two sons and the younger son insists that he receive his inheritance now. So the father capitulates, and the son goes off and squanders his inheritance on booze and women and wild times. A broken man, he tucks his tail tween his legs and goes back to his father begging to be taken back. The father not only welcomes him home, but throws a big banquet for the boy. Of course, this is a parable about how our heavenly Father rejoices when we return from the wasteland of sin.
The older brother bristles at the treatment of the younger brother. But the father says to him, “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.” It’s really pretty easy to get lost. The world has so many big and bright and shiny signs that all point us in the wrong direction. Confusion abounds. And sometimes we just have to “hit bottom” before we can begin to clear our heads and see the signs that point us back to God. If you’re a bit lost, take a moment to pause and ask God for the way home. When you find it, there’s one heck of a party waiting for you!
Father, you how easily we get lost. Open our eyes and our hearts, that we may find our way back to you today. Amen.
The Church always points the way home. If you would like to learn more about your faith this Lent, take advantage of our Lenten specials on A Minute in the Church and Magnetic Christianity at www.GusLloyd.com.
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