While we might be tempted to think that adultery and divorce are recent problems of modern society, the Lord’s teaching today reminds us that these issues have been with humanity from the beginning.
Both Isaiah and Jesus offer words of hope and consolation regarding the faithful and tender compassion of God. The Psalmist sums it up, “The Lord is gracious and merciful.”
The parable of the Prodigal Son offers powerful insights into the spiritual life. May the lessons we learn inspire us to return to our Heavenly Father and accept his gifts of grace and reconciliation.
While teaching about the need to repent, Jesus offers a parable that challenges us to cultivate a fruitful life. Where do we get the courage to do this? We recognize that Christ is the master gardener who lovingly tends to the care of our souls!
The readings today all point out the crucial need to repent of our sins. It’s one of those teachings that we all acknowledge yet find hard at times to carry out. May we call upon the Lord for the grace we need to honestly admit our faults and seek God’s forgiveness.
Christ emphasizes the Lord’s Prayer with the crucial command to forgive one another. May we take this essential teaching to heart and live it in our daily lives.