Readings: MI 7:14-15, 18-20; PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; LK 15:1-3, 11-32
As our personal relationship with Jesus grows, through daily prayer, through regular reading of scripture, and regular reception of the sacraments, we often become more aware of our sin. In the gospel reading, the son essentially all but killed his father, by demanding his share of the inheritance. From a father’s perspective, that had to be one of the most difficult moments in his life.
But as the son soon enough discovered, he had sinned. He had treated his father poorly by treating him as dead. When the son reaches the low point in his life, he finally realized just how poorly he had treated his father. And having no where else to go, he returned to his father to repent, and ask forgiveness.
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
And much to the son’s surprise, the father’s reaction was not what he had expected, but probably should have known. The father was just overjoyed at the son’s return, what had happened in the past no longer mattered.
Asking for forgiveness, like the son in the gospel reading, or forgiving like the father, can be very difficult to do. It might be easier for a parent to forgive a child, than it is for a child to ask forgiveness. But it is probably more difficult for someone to ask from or give forgiveness to others. Is there someone in your life, whom you have an estranged relationship with, that either you need to ask forgiveness of or forgive them, even if not asked?
Take time this lent, to seek out forgiveness. Either by asking for it from someone you’ve harmed. Or by forgiving someone who has harmed you.
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