Saturday, March 10, 2007
From AscensionNYC
Saturday in the Second Week of Lent
Psalm 103:1-12
Micah 7:14-15,18-20
Luke 15:11-32
When I think of memories of certain people who have paid key roles in my life, I often picture them in certain settings that I experienced them in most often. A lot of memories I have of growing up and spending time with my father are often set sitting in the car with him on road trips or just the drive from my school on a Friday afternoon to his house for the weekend. My father works in sales and I remember hearing him making lots of calls in the car when we'd be riding together during business hours. The one thing that frustrated him the most was when people were not honest with him, especially when they might have been hiding something that was a mistake or a business deal that would not work out as expected. There were so many moments when he would turn to me after a phone call and tell me, "I don't know why people don't just own up to their mistakes, it's so much easier to say you're sorry and try to find a solution."
In my own experience, saying you are sorry, isn't always so easy, but admitting I was wrong and seeking a solution has always been much better than an elaborate web of lies to be maintained and then eventually getting caught and in much more trouble.
In today's readings, we hear a great deal about God's love and compassion for us in terms that are that are magnificent and also quite overwhelming. In Psalm 103 and in Micah, God is forgiving, compassionate, merciful, gracious, faithful and loyal. In Jesus' parable of the prodigal son, the father explains that his welcoming and forgiveness for his younger son who does not mean that he loves the older son any less nor that the younger son is being rewarded for his transgressions, but the celebration of the father is an expression of love and compassion for his genuinely repentant child who has made a difficult journey to return home.
There are so many things that one can take away from all three of these readings, but reading them today, it makes me think of those truly painful moments when I have gasped or groaned at my misjudgments and mistakes thinking I was really in trouble and dragging myself in to face the music. Time and again, I always discovered that a genuine apology and a true attempt to find a solution right what may have been wrong has always been much more welcome than discovery of deceitful alternative paths. I find these readings incredibly comforting and reassuring, that even when my feet stray, even if turning back is really painful, there is a kind, just, compassionate and loving God to embrace me and a renewed openness to the Spirit will only help get me back on track again. Even though this may not seem to be the easier option at the time, it leads to a much better outcome, drawing closer to God once again and working to maintain the trust of those with whom I have relationships.
Micah 7:14-15,18-20
Luke 15:11-32
When I think of memories of certain people who have paid key roles in my life, I often picture them in certain settings that I experienced them in most often. A lot of memories I have of growing up and spending time with my father are often set sitting in the car with him on road trips or just the drive from my school on a Friday afternoon to his house for the weekend. My father works in sales and I remember hearing him making lots of calls in the car when we'd be riding together during business hours. The one thing that frustrated him the most was when people were not honest with him, especially when they might have been hiding something that was a mistake or a business deal that would not work out as expected. There were so many moments when he would turn to me after a phone call and tell me, "I don't know why people don't just own up to their mistakes, it's so much easier to say you're sorry and try to find a solution."
In my own experience, saying you are sorry, isn't always so easy, but admitting I was wrong and seeking a solution has always been much better than an elaborate web of lies to be maintained and then eventually getting caught and in much more trouble.
In today's readings, we hear a great deal about God's love and compassion for us in terms that are that are magnificent and also quite overwhelming. In Psalm 103 and in Micah, God is forgiving, compassionate, merciful, gracious, faithful and loyal. In Jesus' parable of the prodigal son, the father explains that his welcoming and forgiveness for his younger son who does not mean that he loves the older son any less nor that the younger son is being rewarded for his transgressions, but the celebration of the father is an expression of love and compassion for his genuinely repentant child who has made a difficult journey to return home.
There are so many things that one can take away from all three of these readings, but reading them today, it makes me think of those truly painful moments when I have gasped or groaned at my misjudgments and mistakes thinking I was really in trouble and dragging myself in to face the music. Time and again, I always discovered that a genuine apology and a true attempt to find a solution right what may have been wrong has always been much more welcome than discovery of deceitful alternative paths. I find these readings incredibly comforting and reassuring, that even when my feet stray, even if turning back is really painful, there is a kind, just, compassionate and loving God to embrace me and a renewed openness to the Spirit will only help get me back on track again. Even though this may not seem to be the easier option at the time, it leads to a much better outcome, drawing closer to God once again and working to maintain the trust of those with whom I have relationships.
Jennifer Landis
