“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion.” In this week’s gospel, we read about the prodigal son, who returns home humbled and repentant after squandering his inheritance only to find himself welcomed back wholeheartedly with unconditional love, joy and forgiveness beyond his wildest dreams. He is lavished with all the abundance his father has to offer, including a special celebration with the fatted calf.
The story points to God’s merciful, redemptive love for each and every one of us.
No matter how foolishly we have thrown away our gifts and blessings, which have been freely given to us. No matter how wasteful, selfish or unkind we have been. No matter how deeply we have betrayed His trust or how royally we have failed to honor Him, our Heavenly Father waits for us with an open heart, open mind, and the desire to bring us fully back into all the riches of His heavenly kingdom, fully redeemed by grace.
I pray you have received that kind of mercy in your life!
Too often because we haven't received mercy from people, we fail to imagine God could love us in spite of our mistakes and shortcomings. Too often, we fail to return into authentic personal relationship with Jesus because of our lack of belief in His infinite wellspring of divine mercy.
Today, if you “are a long way off” like the prodigal son and (to varying degrees) the rest of us, I pray you have the courage to continue the lifelong journey home; that you may experience the infinite love and mercy that our Lord has for each and every one of us as he awaits our wholehearted return to Him.
- Nicky Gant |
