Today’s Gospel Text:
Now
the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the
scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with
them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "What ---- 10 Just so, I tell you, there is
joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." 11 And he said, "There was a
man who had two sons; 12 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. 13 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. 14 And when he had spent
everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 So he went and joined himself
to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed
swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on
the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17 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! 18 I will arise and go to my
father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be
called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20 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. 21 And the son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to
be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his
servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on
his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf and
kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and
is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. 25 "Now his elder son was in
the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and
dancing. 26 And he called one of the
servants and asked what this meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your
brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has
received him safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and refused to
go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father,
'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command;
yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours
came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted
calf!' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you
are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to make merry
and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is
found.'" LK 15:1-3, 11-32
Reflection: Why
do people avoid making friends or avoid going to a new place or a gathering of
peoples? Is it on account of pride or vengeance or a lack of respect towards
the invitee? Could be!
But
there could be another reason, which is normally a dormant subconscious activity in the minds of people who would want to fellowship and go for such functions or
gathering. This discomfort could be on account of variety of
subconscious factors.
Similarly,
some people could attract, it is not just pretty and handsome people we talk
about, but also people with certain charism’ too.
But
if one is hurt then the very one that could normally attract could now become a
repellent.
Similarly,
there is an attraction which could be in any realm or area of talent; in such
situations one could be attracted to sports and sports people or politics or
academics or particular talents or types of services.
But
there is an universal appeal to the spiritual realm too wherein people could get
attracted to people who are spiritually bent and may seek to follow them.
Here
one must be cautious and remind oneself that spiritual and spirituality doesn’t
automatically qualify the spiritual for a following, they can also be deceivers;
wolves in sheep clothing.
"Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matt 7:15
So you also outwardly
appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matt 23:28
One way to judge them is to look at the fruit they bear and that
too we need the Lord’s help and grace; for even otherwise our salvation is in
the Lord, who has established for us the institutions necessary for our
salvation.
Prayer: Lord, you guide me by your right hand always, to
walk in your path.
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
