|
Reflections
for Sunday, March 10, 2013
We have this wonderful parable of the two sons today. Our first reading,
from the Book of Joshua shows us the chosen people finally coming into the
Promised Land. It sounds so wonderful and surely, it was even more
wonderful. Coming into the Promised Land only happens at the end of the
long journey. That journey was filled with difficulties, with rebellion,
with rejection and with struggles.
The story of the two sons in the Gospel should not be a surprise. Each of
them has difficulties, rebellions, rejections and struggles. This is true
of any serious human and Christian life. We are not just born and
automatically become wonderful human beings. Instead, we are born and life
begins. Life is a serious of difficulties, rebellions, rejections and
struggles. There are also wonderful joys, graces and delights.
Lent is a time for us to recognize our own sinfulness and to ask that we
may become more alive in God's grace. We need both of these aspects in our
lives: a recognition of our own rebellion against God and a deep desire
for God's grace. We see this dynamic at work both in the Book of Joshua
and in the parable that the Gospel of Luke gives to us today. In both of
these, literary works, inspired Scriptures for us, there is awareness that
we humans do not easily admit our brokenness and sinfulness. We try to get
by without God and without admitting to ourselves our inability to do what
is right. Only when we find ourselves in difficulty do we begin to admit
our brokenness and our need for God.
The Second Letter to the Corinthians tells us that whoever is in Christ is
a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold new things have
come. In order for those new things to come, we must let the old pass
away. We let the old pass away when we finally admit that we are powerless
to control our lives or even to manage our lives and finally allow God to
possess us. God makes us in His own image only when we allow Him to do
so.
May this Sunday in Lent help us see our need of God and come back to the
Father. The Father is always waiting for us and will to run out to meet
us.
Readings of the day:
First Reading: Joshua 5.9a, 10-12
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.17-21
Gospel: Luke 15.1-3, 11-32
| |
Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
|
