This weekend we hear the Parable of the Two Sons, or the Parable of the Prodigal Son as it is more widely known as. This parable is so rich and so deep, that it could be talked about for a week long retreat. Here are two important things about this parable.
  The first is that the father in the story runs to his lost son when he sees him. The father does not wait for the son to reach him, or act like he doesn’t see him. When the father sees his son, he immediately runs to him out of love for his son.
  God runs to us; Christ runs to meet us. When we seek to be reconciled with God He initiates everything. God does most of the labor. All we have to do is open the door of our hearts a little, and God takes it from there. God doesn’t care about our sin. He only cares about us repenting of them, and loving Him again.
  The second thing is how the father treats his lost son when he returns. The father puts a tunic on him, a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. He is restoring the sonship back on him again. This son cut himself off completely from the love of his father when he asked for the inheritance and left him. All that is in the past now. The father doesn’t care about what was done. He restores again what his lost son revoked.
  The same goes for us in Confession, especially when we confess mortal sin. Mortal sin cuts us off completely from God. We are no longer in the state of grace. We cannot receive God’s grace and love when we are in this state. We revoke our inheritance when we commit mortal sin. But all of that is restored again when we go to Confession. We are restored again as His sons & daughters. His sacramental love and mercy heals and restores our wounded hearts.
  This is how powerful Confession is, and why we should always seek it often, not just during Lent, but throughout the year. Every church will be open again for Confession this Wednesday. Come receive the Lord’s mercy, and share in the Father’s joy of His sons & daughters being brought back into His love.