Let us embrace the Lord and His compassionate love

Let us embrace the Lord and His compassionate love

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Micah 7:14-15.18-20, Lk. 15:1-3.11-32. Today's first reading presents the message of hope for the people of Judah who have been “trampled underfoot" and driven off to a foreign land because of their failings. Even when the exile ended and the poverty-stricken people returned to Jerusalem, they were insignificant, numerically and economically. The prophet begs God to show them wonderful signs, as He swore to their fathers from days of old. In today's Gospel, we are called to seek the forgiveness and mercy of our God who always wait for our return. We are called to embrace the Lord and His compassionate love, keeping in mind how He cares for us and how blessed we are for having Him as our loving Father and Creator.

In the parable of the Prodigal son, a kind of resurrection for the younger son took the form of a journey from a self-imposed isolation to an experience of community. His journey took him from hopeless guilt to being warmly welcomed home. The parable of the Prodigal shows how God’s compassion is always at work, bringing people back from isolation to new life. At the return of the Prodigal son, the father ordered for the best robes, ring and scandals as a sign of restoration to his initial dignity. The life of the Prodigal son represent a false sense of maturity and an evil desire for independence which takes us away from the source of all goodness. In contrast to their father, the elder son considered his brother morally dead and would happily leave him to remain in his self-imposed tomb. While the father’s response to his prodigal son was compassion, the elder brother’s response was rigid anger. The parable challenges us to embody in our lifestyle the life-giving compassion of the father rather than the deadening anger of the elder son. Just as the father’s love in the parable was genuine, unconditional and enduring, so should we offer unconditional love to all who hurt us. That is why during this season of Lent we are called to turn our attention towards the Lord and repent from our sinful ways, rebelliousness and disobedience.

May the light of Christ direct us to the right path so that our minds may not be darkened by our sordid desires! Amen!! Good morning and happy weekend!!!

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