SECOND WEEK OF LENT ........ SATURDAY
LUKE 15:1-3, 11-32 YOUR BROTHER HERE WAS DEAD AND HAS COME TO LIFE.
The restoration of the lost coin and the lost sheep to the joyful owners describes the initiatives taken by a merciful and forgiving God to seek and to save lost souls.
There is little to choose between the characters of the two sons. The younger son driven by unrestrained fleshly passions chooses to shamelessly demand his share of the property in the father's life time itself , so that he can waste it in loose living. He was openly rebellious, had no affection for his father or brother and was immoral. But forced by hard and humiliating circumstances it was easier for him to repent and return to a jubilant and forgiving father. The elder son is intensely unhappy about the turn of events, complains against the father and disobeys him.He displays a mean spirit, hardness of heart, self-righteousness and lack of love for his family.Even when the father allays the hidden fears of his elder son about the double share of his property (the father assures him that "all I have is yours") and that he is enjoying the loving closeness with him and invites him into the house to look after the guests and join the celebrations, he stubbornly refuses blinded by hate and resentment. The elder brother chose to refuse the love of his father and companionship of his brother out of bitterness, jealousy and an unforgiving and judgmental attitude. We also find it very difficult to overcome such sinful attitudes in ourselves. Likewise the Pharisees and the scribes together with the religious establishment never came to repentance and finally had Jesus, a forgiving Saviour nailed to the cross. Let us submit and surrender our lives to Jesus who came to root out evil from our hearts. 'What does God require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' Micah 6:8 Our judgmental nature should be replaced by virtues of tolerance, fairness and compassion. These sins of the heart are more subtle and very difficult to conquer than the gross sins of the flesh. Jesus seems to have been more comfortable in the company of those who sinned more often in the flesh than in the company of the hypocritical and hard hearted religious minded.
" The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
a puzzle that no one can figure out.
But I, God, search the heart,
and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human.
I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
not as they pretend to be. " Jeremiah 17:9
God Bless.
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