Joel 3:12-21 - Waters that Refresh!

Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehosh'aphat; for there I will sit to judge all the nations round about.
Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.
Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
And the Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.
"So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwell in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy and strangers shall never again pass through it.
"And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the valley of Shittim.
"Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem to all generations. I will avenge their blood, and I will not clear the guilty, for the Lord dwells in Zion."

soaked by ~olivia1511 on deviantART 

This is a clear picture on how the world is ripe for judgement. Many evil things go on which vexes the soul of a Christian and the Lord will deal with it. But as "The Lord roars from Zion," His people remember that "He is a refuge for His people." Indeed, The Lord promises to refresh His people- "stream beds...shall flow with water and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord." Yes, we seem to be living in a desolate place at times, arid and spiritually dry but the Lord promises cool refreshment in the desert of sin.

Oh, how the Lord refreshes us. He is that cold drink on a hot day.  Our thirsty souls are not satisfied with all that we find around us and what others offer us. Instead, we drink in from the Lord's fountain and we are fulfilled. We immerse ourselves in the Streams that  He causes to flow and are cleansed - relieved from dust of this world, we find true contentment! Our thirst is quenched!

O Lord, let me be saturated in the Sacred Scriptures so that, by prayer and communion with You, I may live in the  refreshing Streams that flow from  Mt. Zion for only in Your river is my soul refreshed. Amen.

Luke 22:39-42, 45-71; 23:1 - Not a good time to sleep

At that time, when Jesus came out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done." And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?" And when those who were about him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance; and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and asked him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" And they spoke many other words against him, reviling him.

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to their council, and they said, "If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." And they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips."

Then the whole company of them arose, and brought him before Pilate.

nodding off, not always the right thing to do.
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The disciples were too sorrowful to pray.  They had just come back from their last meal with Jesus and at that meal He said  one of them would be betray Him and someone else would deny even knowing Him. And they would ALL flee as He Himself was led off to be crucified.  Jesus, too, was sorrowful- not only for what He was about to undergo but also for the feeling of desertion from His friends. Yet while the disciple's grief led to sleep, in Jesus' life it led to prayer. 

Surely, when I need prayer the most yet feel like doing it the least- surely, that IS the time to pray!  Life is full of many temptations and Jesus rightly admonishes His followers to be alert in prayer against them. Yet, we fall asleep. How can we stand if we don't make the effort?  But, even when we fall, God is there to pick us up again.  Peter did not pray and he ended up denying knowing Christ and Jesus even saw him do it. This led to bitter tears but eventually he was restored. How much better, though, if Peter had stayed awake to pray and receive Strength from God. 

O Lord, when I need prayer the most and least desire to actually pray, remind me of Peter. May I not be ruled by my emotions but discipline. May sleep be far from me when it needs to be. Amen.

Luke 19:29-40; 22:7-39 - The Prayers of Jesus!

At that time, when Jesus drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. If any one asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this, 'The Lord has need of it.'" So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying; "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." They said to him, "Where will you have us prepare it?" He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, and tell the householder, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover.
And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this.
A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.
You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me."
And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was reckoned with transgressors'; for what is written about me has its fulfillment." And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough."
And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.

Jesus Christ Praying for you by ~sail91 on deviantART

This long passage has much to offer me today but I believe what I should take hold of is the boast of Simon Peter. He said, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!" But Jesus knew better. He knew that Satan wanted to sift him as wheat, that is, to shake his soul and break him down until he was in pieces.  Peter did not know then that not only would he flee for fear of death, but the very idea of imprisonment was enough to set him running and to lie to a girl in the courtyard about even knowing who Jesus was.

Yes, Peter would fall as I fall all the time but Jesus prayed for him.  Oh, how these prayers were effectual because, after he did fall, he repented and Jesus restored him.  And, Peter, being given back to his proper place was able to strengthen his brothers.  Jesus ministers to us and we must, in turn, minister to others.

O Lord, How, like Peter, I fall! May your prayers and the prayers of your Saints, lead me to full restoration and having been put back into fellowship with You, help me to help others. Amen.

Matthew 25:31-46 - You better help out, OR ELSE!

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Help this man~ Help Christ!
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This is an awe-inspiring event, one that has not taken place yet but one that will come to pass.  All will stand before the Judgement Seat of the Son of Man. He will arrive in His Glory and His angels, those ministering spirits, will be with Him.  He will place one group on His right side, the place of honor, and the other group on His left side, the place of shame.  And their will be only one criteria, it seems, for either eternal happiness or eternal sorrow: How did we treat Christ, i.e, our neighbor? Having spent most of my spiritually formative years in Evangelicalism, I had believed that "accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior," is the be-all and end-all when it comes to entering the Kingdom of God. Yet, the Scriptures say differently.

Jesus so identifies with the downtrodden, the sick and suffering and the despised of this world that when they are ignored, He takes it as a slight against Himself for all those who are in need are His brothers.  And when good is done to those who are in a desperate situation, He is as grateful as if He Himself is being helped for all those who are in need are His brothers.  Yes, "accepting Jesus as your personal Savior" is a good thing and surely we cannot progress towards the Kingdom of God without Jesus acting upon us as the Savior but, in our day to day struggle on this earth, let us remember that how we treat those who are made in the Image of God is how we are treating Christ Himself.  If I do not help my neighbor, how can I say I love Jesus?

O Lord, let me be on constant look-out for those who are need. For I know I will stand before You to give account. I beg, O Christ, have mercy upon me when I fail and remember me when I minister to Your brothers.  It is only in Your mercy, O Lord, that I can trust as I struggle towards Your Kingdom. Amen.

Luke 21:8-9, 25-27, 33-36 - Be on the Look out!

And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.

  

But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.

 

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

 

men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

 

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

 

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

  

For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

 

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Standing Watch against all dangers!
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Jesus calls us to watch. It would be very easy in today's world to get caught up in all the things that try to occupy our soul's attention.  With the twenty-four news cycle and with all sorts of media bombarding us, we always have reason to despair and worry. We hear about wars and commotions but we are not to be terrified. We see distress all about us and we are not to give into its desire to bring us down. Rather, we are to watch, looking for the Son of Man.

Yes, Jesus will return someday. Therefore, I should look to myself and not let my heart be weighed down by all the cares of this life. Nor, should I let these cares lead me to a sort of escapism where I would just ignore the problems of this life with alcohol or any type of carousing. Instead, Let me stand watch, with the Scriptures in my hands and prayers upon my lips, calling out for the Mercy of God!

Stand watch, o my soul, and be vigilant  For the Words of the Son of Man will come true. Heaven and earth may pass but His promises remain firm. And as the words of the Creed affirm, He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Strengthen me, my Lord by Your Grace and the prayers of all Your Saints so that the Day does not take me by surprise. Amen.

Mark 15:22-25, 33-41 - Where to go when you are depressed

And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.

 

Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.

  

And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.

 

Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

  

Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

  

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

 

Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!”

  

Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

 

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

 

Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

 

So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

 

There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,

 

who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem

 

Depressed!

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Jesus was at the lowest point He had ever been. He knew all along who He was and what His relationship with the Father was and He had confidence that His Father's will should be followed because He always did those things that pleased the Father.  Yet, the path the Father laid out for Him was a hard one and one which not only brought Him death, but also a feeling of separation from God, His  Father. Truly this was hardest for Him to bear, not the physical pain but the pain of feeling abandoned by His Father. So where did Jesus turn when He was feeling abandoned and without God? He turned to God through the Sacred Scriptures. He cried out the words of the Psalms, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Jesus was able to turn to the Psalms because in His waking hours, He always brought them to mind.  He memorized them. When He went to synagogue, He paid close attention. When there were no services going on, He'd find Himself at the synagogues, pouring over the Scriptures until it became part of His whole being. He knew His Father and He knew that the words of Scriptures testified about Himself and His Father so He studied them intently. And this study helped Him "to grow in favor with God and with man."

Oh, that I would have such a zeal! May Sacred Scripture be infused in my being like it was for the God-Man Jesus.  Then, when trials come and my own particular cross is to be born, only then can I take comfort in my sorrows as long as I know that the  Scriptures will point me to God.  Amen.

Mark 15:1-15 - Silence!

Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.

 

Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”

 

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.

 

Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”

 

But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

 

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.

 

And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.

 

Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.

 

But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

 

For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

 

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

 

Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

 

So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

 

Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

 

So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

Shh... by ~KamiKiri8246 on deviantART 

Jesus stood in silence.  He was on trial for His life and the chief priests accused Him of many things but He remained silent. The chief priest said slanderous things, false things and said He was worthy of death, not only for the sake of Israel but also for the sake of Rome.  He was, in the view of the chief priests and of the crowd, worse than a murderer for they clamored for clemency for Barabbas, a killer and an insurrectionist, but wanted the death penalty for Jesus, the Prince of Peace.  Jesus offered no defense. He left Himself into the Will of God.

Sometimes our silence speaks loudest of all.  Are people gossiping? Are they speaking ill of others behind their backs when they dare not speak to their faces? Maybe, our silence- that is, by simply walking away from the circle of gossip- maybe, that would speak more than if we openly rebuked all in the group.  Jesus could have defended Himself before Pilate, and, in His wisdom and by His Words, won His own Freedom. But Jesus' silence was a rebuke to all who accused Him.

Lord, help me to know when I should should remain silent and when I should speak up.  And may my actions always speak louder than any words out of my mouth.  Amen.

Well, I did it again....

....I didn't post a meditation today...I had a job interview and I had to get up early in the morning and I didn't make the time for it...but, tomorrow, God willing, I will begin again!

I John 3:9-22 - Show Love by deeds!

BRETHREN, no one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask.

Love Heart by =tvlookplay on deviantART 

 How important it is to love not in words but in actions. The Apostle John knew this well and he tells his spiritual children to "not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth." This is similar to the Apostle James, my patron Saint, who admonishes us to put our words into actions. If we see a brother who is hungry and just say God bless you but don't do anything for him, then our words are empty.

Indeed, how can the Love of God abide in me, if I close my heart to my brother?  Surely, to do so would lead me to feel that "our hearts condemn us." and wouldn't that be true? Can I really say I love God but do nothing for the one who is made in His Image?

O Lord, God of Love because You are Love, help me to love my brother this day in action and not in words.Amen

Mark 11:1-11 - Give away your Donkey

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;

 

and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.

 

And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.

 

So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.

 

But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

 

And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.

 

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

 

And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

  

Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’

 

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

 

And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Give away your donkey
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The disciples might have thought it strange to do what Jesus told them to do. Without asking, to just take a donkey that is not your own and then when confronted with your action to reply, "God needs this,"- well, that might seem a bit odd to do. And yet the disciples had seen many things when they were with Jesus so they reasoned that they should just obey Him.  As it turns out, it went exactly as Jesus said it would.

God will make sure His will is done and when that will is thwarted by human free will, He knows how to work around it.  It was His will that Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a colt and He knew just who to send the disciples to and He knew how the colt owner would react and He knew the proper response to give to the owner, whose heart must have been open to the Lord.  The owner of the colt did not balk at giving his possessions away. If the Lord has of it then the Lord can have it.

O Lord, let me have the heart to trust you and may my heart be like the owner of the colt who, without opposition, gave his donkey for the Lord's work.  All that I have is yours so I give it freely. Amen.

Luke 15:11-32 - The Humility of God!

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the 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. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 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. 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.' 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; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 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.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 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. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" 

A Father always Loves his Son
photo by Tejas Califas, used under the creative commons license
check out more photos at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/tejascalifas/

Look at the Humility of the father! His one son disrespects him by asking for his inheritance early, basically saying, I want nothing to do with this family anymore and he leaves. The other son disrespects his father by refusing to come into the house. In both cases, the father is the one who joyfully receives. He runs out to greet his now humble son and leaves the party to entreat his discontent son.  It is the place of the child to serve the father but the father is the one who makes all the moves of service.

Surely the son who spent his inheritance and is yet restored is now the happiest of men.  He has the love of his father which he knows he doesn't deserve. Look at the sadness of the son who stayed, yet his heart is from from his father. For surely he would have rejoiced with his father had his heart not been so hard.  Yet the father wants to receive them both! And our Father in Heaven receives us, whether we wandered far away from Him or stayed near Him all our lives.  He calls us daily to receive us with joy.

Lord, make me to have the heart of the returned son. He knows he is nothing and that the Father is all Love. Thank you, for your humility, O Christ God, by taking on flesh you showed us how You are like the father in the story and humbly receive those who return to You. Thank You, O Heavenly Father, for the Love You display daily and thank You, O Holy Spirit, for leading us towards the Kingdom of God at every turn of our life.  Amen.