We always hear about the prodigal son, but his older brother was at least as prodigal. The older brother looked good but was just as alienated from his father as the younger brother. The younger brother did not feel worthy to be called his father's son (Lk 15:18). However, the older brother spoke of life with his father as slavery (Lk 15:29). He did not know that everything his father had was available to him (Lk 15:31). The older son felt resentful his father had never given him "so much as a kid goat" (Lk 15:29).
Many Christians today are like the older son. We appear to never disobey one of God the Father's orders (Lk 15:29). We are church-goers, good citizens, and hard workers. Our vices are socially acceptable. We look good, but aren't in a good relationship with our heavenly Father. We're not cheerfully serving God but begrudgingly slaving for Him out of fear, habit, or social pressures. Our Father has come out and is pleading with us to accept a personal relationship with Him. Say "Yes" this Lent.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I let the world know I'm happy to be Your child. |
| PROMISE: | He "does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt." –Mi 7:18-19 |
| PRAISE: | Roberta fasts twice a week. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College