PRAYER PAUSE
Saturday 18 March 2017, Cyril of
Jerusalem
THIS MAN
WELCOMES SINNERS
Pause. Enter into the stillness of God
within.
Reading: “The Pharisees and the scribes
complained. “This man,” they said, “welcomes sinners and tax collectors.” (Luke
15:1-3, 11-32)
Reflection. We feel the irony in Luke’s pen. He
knows indeed that Jesus welcomes sinners and captives, all those bound in their
zones of un-freedom. He wants to open up a new life as he will proceed to show with
the story of the lost son who “comes to his senses.” But Luke introduces the
parable by saying the religious leaders “complained.” What did they expect of
Jesus? That he would conform to their standard of closed groups in a divide
world? That he would confirm their rigid judgemental way which froze the religious,
social and even political status quo in a time warp that allowed them to control
and enjoy their positon? Jesus undermines their world view and bursts open the
way for us to return from our “foreign country” to our Father’s house.
Prayer. Lord, help us to turn: to turn perhaps
from our normal ways to something more generous, more demanding, more life
engaging. Amen.
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