Reflection for Saturday, March 3, 2018

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

MI 7: 14-15

PS 103: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

LK 15: 1-3, 11-32

A story of chasing.

Chasing materiality.

The story of the Prodigal Son begins with the son chasing a sense of materiality through spending cash on worldly pleasures. He uses his inheritance to spoil himself for personal gain. It is fun for awhile but the money doesn’t last forever. As the money runs out, famine strikes leaving him scrambling to stay a float.

To start, the son was chasing an image or feeling that provided him with momentary pleasure. However, his fleeting lifestyle wasn’t able to withstand the test of time. I sense that we often get caught up in a similar chase. The chase to earn more money, to get that recognition or award, to own the newest gadgets, or to keep up with the social trends. But what is all that worth in the long run?

What types of materiality are we chasing in life?

Chasing God.

Once the son hit rock bottom with nothing left to his name, he realizes that he was missing out on something, something greater than himself. As stated in the Gospel, he came to his senses. He realized that he could live another way if only he returned to his father.

Here, the son was able to find a solution to his misery when he took a step back and realized his life wasn’t all he thought it should or could be. We’ve been caught in moments like this where we may ask ourselves how are we being fulfilled through our actions. Sometimes the answer is a positive one but often, we are left with only temporary pleasure or no true fulfillment at all. The remedy? Letting God into our lives to fill the space that is or was giving us momentary feelings of happiness.

            Where in our lives can God replace something that provides only momentary pleasure?

Chasing Reconciliation.

The son turned around and headed back home to his father. Upon embracing his father, he apologized and repented for his actions against his father. In return, his father celebrated his homecoming and warmly welcomed him back into the family.

Now, the son returned home and had to acknowledge his aggressions against his father. He was also willing to be held responsible for his actions. As we are all sinners, we have faced times where we did the wrong thing and have had to acknowledge our actions. In order to be truly cleansed of our wrongdoings, we must own up to our sins and ask God to forgive us, despite our continued sinfulness. While it may be uncomfortable or take some humbling, it is necessary in order to be welcomed back home again, into God’s embrace.

            How can we acknowledge our sinfulness and seek God’s forgiveness?

Let us all chase God this Lenten season.

Anna Becker is a senior studying Biology.