Worthy Sons

Agnes of Prague
Angela of the Cross Guerrero ,Congregation of the Cross

Gospel Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 The Prodigal Son

There were three: Father, Prodigal Son and Brother, and God pleaded with the elder son to be forgiving and merciful.

We each see the attraction of distant things, and if given half a chance, we will do as the prodigal son, spending our wealth.

When we have exhausted ourselves in pleasure, and our wealth has all been spent, we awaken and are ashamed, and seek a way back to where we were before.

At least, if there still exists some decency in us, we will set about to seek a way to support ourselves while we find a way to live with our sin. God was always ready to receive us, whether from our birth, or only after we woke up and saw the state to which we have fallen.

Jesus does not mind forgiving us, for then it is possible to receive all our love, and for us to receive all of His, and of the two bargains, the last is by far the choicest part.

A wise person learns moderation in all things, and that at least mitigates the danger to our soul. Yet. we discover that in some things, there is no moderation possible, because His love in infinite, and  ours is but a trifle of His.

The point is, if we are forgiving of sinners and help them mend their ways, they might live to be of great benefit to society and to God, whereas, if we insist on penalties and punishment and mercy is never a part of the plan, needless suffering is the fruit of our labor.

Of one thing we should be very careful: not to get our way in all things. Some things are not a matter of sin, but of the value of our merit, for it is in tending to seek more and more to be of greater value to the Lord, we grow to love Him for whom we have expended ourselves.

He seeks those who will give themselves to His flock. He puts a man in charge of them who have mastered virtue and giving good example. They are the friends of God, not them whose sole  purpose in life is to look splendid in rich and fancy clothes who are always ready to party and waste the opportunity to attract souls.

Do not judge one another, for each of us is a mirror reflecting the Lord, and if we have nothing of ourselves obscuring our vision, we will see God clearly and distinctly in our brothers and joy will be in that place.