Day 18, Saturday, 6 March I will arise and go to my father

 

RETREAT IN LENT 2021

Day 18, Saturday, 6 March 

I will arise and go to my father

It is a matter of continuous astonishment that God gives us the key to our own salvation, our own happiness. The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is the story of God’s forgiveness but his compassion is unlocked by the son. Without that ‘coming to his senses’ and decision to ‘arise’ (it is the same Greek word as is used for the resurrection of Jesus) ‘and go to my father’ there would have been no healing.  

The accompanying passage from the prophet Micah (7:14-20) also pleads for forgiveness: ‘Have pity on us, tread down our faults; to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins.’ It is a constant theme, especially for Luke, in the gospels. Women and men come forward, express their need for healing – in body and spirit – and every time they receive it. It is not just words, ‘Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy’ but a deep felt cry for healing.

And the father rejoices! The son has made his day by coming home. The father forgets all the hurt, anxiety and disappointment he felt. He falls over himself making arrangements to welcome home his son; the best robe, a ring, sandals, a feast. His joy is so great he can’t think of anything more he can do. Then the elder brother comes in – all gloomy and judgemental – threatening to dampen the joy of the moment. Big brother fails to ‘rise’.

Reconciliation stretches us. When someone is truly sorry it is still difficult to forgive and perhaps even more difficult to forget. But Micah pleads that our sins be buried at the bottom of the sea. And then we rise above it all into the joy of God’s compassion and love.