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“…his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him...” (Luke 15:32).

Prodigal Son (Pompeo Batoni)

I love the parable of the prodigal son.

I have listened to this story from the time I was a very little girl.  I have heard priests preaching about it and teachers speaking about it all my life.  I had heard it explained form the perspective of the Father (who forgives ANY sin), from the older brother (who is jealous and therefore displeases the Father because he acts as a slave and not a son) and from the perspective of the prodigal son (whose humility allowed him to return to salvation with the Father).  And every perspective is beautiful and worthy of contemplation…

“There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine ... But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.’’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him...” (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32).

And when I read this parable again today, I was so moved by that final line…  “…his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him...” (Luke 15:32).

And if I close my eyes right now I can see my Eternal Father, looking for me, waiting for me, hoping in me, loving me.  And I can feel his excitement – His joy – at my return.  I can feel Him scanning the horizon for me, waiting for me to return.  I can feel His anticipation of how much love He has to show me when I finally come home.

And when I think about that – when I see it in my mind’s eye – I am overcome with grief.  For I have done such terrible things to offend my Blessed Lord.  I have committed very kind of sin and disgrace.  I have offended Him intentionally and unintentionally.  And there He stands anyway…waiting for me.  With ALL HIS PERFECT LOVE – just waiting to share that with me.

My Poor Father…  My poor poor Father…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.