While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. – Luke15:20

       In the summer of my third year in high school, I became a rebel middle child. At this point in my teenage life, I was lost trying to find myself. I felt unloved. Some of the crazy things I did included downing two bottles of cough syrup containing codeine, baking brownies with poppy seeds, and guzzling five cases of beer with a handful of friends. I knew my mom learned about my dopey moments but never called my attention. I thought that she didn’t love me.

         I got frustrated and decided to go joyriding to Tagaytay with P1,000 in my pocket. Assuming that no one would look for me, I didn’t go home for five days. I managed to live in a kubo (native hut), ate two meals a day at the Mahogany market, and used the toilet of the nearby church. I never took a bath and smelled like a pig.

       Realizing my dire situation, I called my mom to return home and reconcile. I was ready to be reprimanded and punished. As soon as I rang the bell, she opened the gate. I got the best embrace of my life. Dean Pax Lapid (happyretiree40@gmail.com)

Reflection: Have you ever felt unconditional love? Have you given unconditional love?

Father God, forgive me for my rebel ways. I realize that it’s only by Your grace and mercy that I can go back to the road of righteousness and rejoicing.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Let us remember what God has done for us and surrender our life to His grace. It is important that we remember our roots. They define our identity and our purpose.

14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; 15 As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. 18 Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, 19 and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; 20 you will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

R: The Lord is kind and merciful.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 9 He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R) 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. (R)

Who do you identify with in this parable? Asking this question will help us understand and draw grace from the teaching of Jesus. The Gospels are not simply stories but are teachings that concern our character and principles. The Gospels are a wealth of resources to help you find the answer.

I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them Jesus addressed this parable. 11 “A man had two sons, 12 and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. 17 Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 22 But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’  Then the celebration began. 25 Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27 The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

think: Who do you identify with the most – the prodigal son, the older son or the merciful father? Why?

Read the Bible in one year Genesis 13-15

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

LOSING DIGNITY

AND GAINING A NEW IDENTITY

We heard on Ash Wednesday that it is a time to “turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel.” In other words, we are invited to leave our old self behind and strive for something new, for something lasting. This demands a radical decision. The great theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “If you board the wrong train, it’s no use running along the corridor in the wrong direction.” In other words, one has to get off that train and board one that goes in the right direction.

       That brings us to the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son in the parable had to realize who he was. He had to surrender his identity as the “prodigal son” without knowing who he will be when he arrives home. He must wait and hope to receive a new identity from his father. To come home, he must throw away his dignity and receive more than he ever had before.

       The father also throws away his dignity, running towards his son without waiting for an apology. Luke writes: “While he [the younger son] was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him... He ran to his son...” It’s as if the Father was standing every day on the roof, looking off into the distance, hoping that his lost son would return. As soon as he sees him, he rushes towards him, something an elderly person in that culture would never do without losing his dignity.

       But that’s the image of God presented to us by Jesus: God never stops hoping that we will come to Him. He has His eyes on us all the time, not to pounce on us when we mess up, but to run to us, embrace us, kiss us, and clothe us with the robe of His grace and the sandals of divine sonship.

       And the elder son? He had fallen in a deadly routine that blinded him to how good his father was. He, too, had lost his dignity. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

With whom of the three persons in the parable can you identify?

Lord, I clearly see the many times I have said “no” to You and chosen myself. I give thanks for having such a patient and forgiving father in You. I am sorry for my lack of love for You, for taking You for granted at times. Now I turn back to You, confident of Your mercy and forgiveness.Amen.