From the Gospel according to Luke
Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'”

With What Joy.

Lord, when I read this Gospel, I can focus on how despicable the younger son was for being so selfish in asking for his inheritance, and how despicable the older son was for being so ungrateful and lacking mercy toward his brother. But You, instead, emphasize the eagerness to find what was lost and the immense joy of being able to rescue it.  

It fills me with hope to know with what joy You wait for me with open arms when I stray from You, and with what joy You go out to seek me, rejoicing in having rescued me. Thank You, Lord, for loving me so much. How great You are. You are Holy, Lord. **Praise be to You!

Applying This to Married Life:

Alfonso: Can you imagine that if you distanced yourself from me, my only joy would be to go out with love to bring you back?  

I believe that attitude would truly make me more like God.  

Marta: Only with God’s love could you react that way. Especially when, in that moment, I would likely not welcome you but continue to reject you.  

Alfonso: Wow! Now I clearly see that only God’s love is capable of responding with such love. I see that I need to be very close to Him. No, not just close—I need to **be in Him**. He can love you this way through me.

Mother,  

Even if I am lost, welcome me into Your Heart so that I may be in His Heart and in the heart of my husband or wife. Thank you, Blessed Mother.