Found

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Found

Illumination     Grace

Longing     Welcoming     Entrusting

Come To Life Again

Reconciliation

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   2 Corinthians 5: 18 and 19

God has graced us with this: God has reconciled us through Christ and given us the gift of reconciliation.

God reconciled the world in Christ.

God did not count our trespasses against us.

God entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation.

Luke 15: 31 and 32

His father said to him,

"My son you are always with me and everything I have is yours.

Now, however, is our time to rejoice and to celebrate.

Your brother was dead and has come to life again.

He was lost and now is found."

Reflection

Our readings today invite us to look at the ministry of reconciliation. They ask us to look at the way we forgive others.

Forgiveness is a struggle for us. Naturally when we are hurt or offended by someone, we can take it personally and begin to plot our revenge. 

How can I get back at that person?

Can I damage a reputation, spread a rumor, reveal a secret, send a nasty tweet, or threaten the loss of a job?

Those thoughts and eventually actions are commonplace in our society today. Many times we don't even take into consideration a person's intention or allow that person to explain a point of view that lead to a remark or action.

Our scriptures today point us in a completely different direction. St. Paul in 2 Corinthians tells us that God is not counting our sins and trespasses against us. Instead God wants to bring us close to one another. God desires reconciliation and not alienation.

God not only desires this. God has accomplished this huge task through Jesus. Jesus is a Healer. Jesus is a Reconciler.

St. Luke brings out this theme in the Parable of the Forgiving Father. The younger son has gone off and spent his inheritance foolishly and has nothing left.

In desperation he returns home to ask his father if he can become a hired hand. He is hungry. He has no money left.

The father welcomes him back with mercy and celebration. Naturally this upsets the older brother who has been so helpful to the father, so reliable, and so faithful.

The father thanks him and assures him that he will have his reward but points him in the direction of reconciliation. His younger brother experienced a death---his actions destroyed his spirit and left him empty and despairing.

He was lost.

We can think of the times in our own lives when we were confused and took the wrong path. The times when we were selfish and turned our back on those who were in need and were blind to their pain.

Jesus calls us to be healers as well and to reach out to those whom everyone else passes by. We can ask ourselves, "Whom does God want me to find today and share forgiveness and love?"

1. How important is the ministry of reconciliation for you?

2. Why do we want to get revenge on the people who hurt us?

3. When have you been found when you were lost?

4. Whom is God calling you to forgive today?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)