Second Saturday of Lent

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.

We share a lot in common with the prodigal and older son in today’s gospel. We have taken the gifts and talents God has given us and squandered them. Some of are like the older brother. We waste our abilities a little at a time, here and there. We hardly notice the missed opportunities to do more than just what is required of us. We think obedience is enough, but it is not. Doing God’s Will requires self-sacrifice and humility. However, others of us are like the prodigal son. We blind ourselves to the good with our desire for worldly things. We let our physical wants guide us away from our spiritual needs. We starve on a lack of charity toward God, others, and ourselves. We have no harvest to tend to because we have not taken the time to purchase the seeds through sacrifice or plant them with love. However, the Father is always there for us, hoping we too will come to our senses and return to him like the prodigal son or realize that everything is ours like the elder one.

In what ways are we like the prodigal son? Do we identify with the jealousy of the elder son? How can we learn from both of these men and grow in our relationship with God, our father?

O Lord, help us to come to our senses and to know everything you have is ours.

Amen.