March 6th, Saturday, Second Week of Lent

Micah 7: 14-15, 18-20, Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12, Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32

As I read the scriptures in the book of Luke I reflected on a human father’s love and ability to forgive his child. I wondered what my reaction would have been if this was my child. Do the boundaries of my love reach further than any wrong my child is capable of? So far, thankfully, they have. In some cases however, it takes a day or two for the actual forgiveness to take place. Knowing that the story of the Prodigal Son is a reference to God as the “Father” and all of God’s children as the prodigal son, gives us, the reader, a glimpse of how perfect God’s love is.

The scripture readings in Micah and the Book of Psalms talk not in parables but directly of God’s love and forgiveness. “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his love…”

This is the God I have always known in my heart. No sin by any of his children can fall outside the boundaries of his love. Even though some may say this gives us a free ticket to sin to any extent, and in the end be forgiven, we need to keep in mind that when we are closest to complete peace and happiness, we find ourselves in the center of how God truly wants us to live our lives. However, it is comforting to know that when we do fail and fall away, we are and always will be, welcome home.

Ken Dix, married to Katie, father of 4 girls.