The story of the Prodigal Son...Which son are you?

How many times have we read the story of the Prodigal Son and just look at the obvious.  It is so familiar that I wonder if we take the time to really meditate on what Jesus is trying to say to us. 

The younger son asks for his inheritance and "takes the money and runs".  He was young and dumb and ends up hungry and broke.  Have you ever been any of these circumstances?  If not you can at least relate to this....you have made mistakes and yes you came back, tail between your legs and meekly asked to be forgiven. 

The older son is the one not very often  thought about in this story.  He comes home and is not happy that his brother is alive, let alone home and there is a party going on celebrating this.  The green eyed monster of jealousy rears his ugly head.....then comes the angry, envy and the rest.  How often have we forgotten to be glad for someone else and instead became bitter, resentful or self righteous? 

So when you think you know the plot of the story....ask yourself these questions:  Am I a prodigal son? A pharisee? A jealous son? A rebellious son?   Or are you a sinner who is running into God's open arms asking for mercy?  Did you find your way home?  Are you still lost?  There is still time to mend  the relationship with God and find your way home. 

God Bless....keep on working this Lent...make it the best ever!

Do you need some encouragement this Lent?

We are three weeks into Lent and I am wondering how well we are doing with our lenten resolutions?  Have we just tossed them aside because we forgot or didn't live up to our own expectations?  Well this week, God gives us encouragement with the story of the fig tree.  If you reread this, the owner wants to just cut it down, as it did not produce fruit in the first three years.  But the gardener says," Let me fertilize and till the soil around its roots...if it does not produce fruit next year you can then cut it down".  Can't you hear God saying, "you still have time to get it...you can still change the things you need to change....just fertilize...(prayer and fast) ....prune the branches...(cut away what is causing you to stay away from God)...and till the soil....(Keep coming back..again and again..)  You see God is the gardener and the real question is not what you haven't done...but when  will you have "fruit"........ soon?