I shall get up and go to my father. (Luke 15:18) Imagine for a minute that you are the prodigal son. You have taken off with your father’s money and now have nothing to show for it. What you’ve done with it, you can’t mention out loud. You’re so deep in debt you can’t feed yourself, so you’re starving. Your life is so complicated that you can’t see any way out. Mercifully, not many of us get to that point. And yet, some of us have had experiences we can’t mention in public. Some of us have squandered God’s grace recklessly or foolishly. Some of us are spiritually starving for God’s love and affection, forgiveness and affirmation. If that’s you, do what the prodigal son did! Go to your heavenly Father, and tell him the truth about your life as only you know it. Tell him the worst that you know about yourself, and start a conversation with him. Yes, it can be frightening and humbling. The prodigal son probably struggled with those feelings, too. Say whatever occurs to you, or use the prodigal’s words, “Father, I have sinned and don’t deserve to be called your child.” When you go to God like this, you’ll likely be amazed at his response. He won’t deal with you according to your sins! He is outrageously rich in mercy, love, and compassion. His kindness and goodness are limitless. And they are for you. So start the conversation this Lent. What have you done? What have you failed to do? What do you lack? What do you need? Get up and go to your Father, however ill-equipped or unprepared you feel. Go ahead and confess your sins. Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and leave your sins at your Father’s feet. Then, let God meet you with the same joyful, generous, and kind welcome that the father in today’s reading had for his younger son. The psalmist tells us, “As far as the east is from the west, so far have our sins been removed from us” (Psalm 103:12). As parents feel for their children, God feels right now for you. He is waiting to take you in his arms and shower you with love! “Father, I have sinned. Let me tell you about it today so that I can feel your love and kindness.”
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:46:14 +0000
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