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Luke 15:11-32 -
And [Jesus] said, "There was a man who had two sons;
and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give
me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided
his living between them. Not many days later, the younger
son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far
country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.
And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in
that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and
joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who
sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly
have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave
him anything. But when he came to himself he said, `How
many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and
to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and
go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I
have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer
worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired
servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But
while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had
compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And
the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.' But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly
the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his
hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and
kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son
was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'
And they began to make merry.
"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came
and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.
And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father
has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him
safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in.
His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his
father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never
disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that
I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of
yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you
killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, `Son,
you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It
was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother
was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
(RSV)
Get up and run – Christ chooses
those who stand. Rise and run to the Church. Here is the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He who hears you pondering
in the secret places of the mind runs to you. When you are
still far away, He sees you and runs to you. He sees in
your heart, He runs, perhaps someone may hinder and He embraces
you. His foreknowledge is in the running, his mercy in the
embrace and the disposition of fatherly love. He falls on
your neck to raise you when you are prostrate and burned
with sins. He brings you back when you have turned from
the earth to heaven. Christ falls on your neck to free your
neck from the yoke of slavery and He hangs his sweet yoke
upon your shoulders. (St. Ambrose)
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