IT'S NEVER TOO LATE
(To come back to God)
TODAY we read
About COMING BACK to God
And the finding of the lost souls
In chapter 15 of Saint Luke's Gospel
Jesus teaches us about one lost sheep
One lost coin-and one LOST SON
Coming to his Father-who is waiting-
With open arms
It is the story of ALL
Of us-because-
We ALL become lost
Along life's highway
At one time-or another
It is NEVER too late
To come HOME to God-
To our loving and waiting Father
“While he was STILL a long way off
His Father caught sight of him
And was FILLED with compassion” Luke 15:20
IF nothing else-it teaches us
At least one thing
We should never give up
On ourselves-
For God our Father
NEVER gives up on us
As the parable of
THE PRODIGAL SON teaches us
He wants to see us RESTORED-
Physically-emotionally-spiritually-
And in EVERY other way
“RESTORE us-O God-
Make your face shine on us
That we may be saved” Psalm 80:3
“Brothers and sisters-if someone-
IS caught in a sin
You who live by the SPIRIT
Should restore
That person gently” Galatians 6:8
“And the God of ALL GRACE
Who called you
To his eternal glory
In Christ
AFTER you have suffered
A little while
Will himself RESTORE YOU-
And make you strong-
Firm-and steadfast” 1 Peter 5:10
It is NEVER too late
To return to God
It is never too late
To return to him
Like the WAITING FATHER- and-
The PRODIGAL SON-he is
Just waiting for you-for me-
For us-to return to him
OUR God is not simply
The God of the lost
But he is-also-
The God of the FOUND
In this parable-the loving Father
Catches sight of the prodigal son
And is FILLED with compassion
For him
Our God knows our failings
And our shortcomings
And he actually WAITS for our RETURN
This is the God
Who searches for us
UNTIL he finds us
ALL the while
Waiting for our return
WITH LOVE
“I will give them a HEART
To know me
That I am the Lord
They will BE my people
And I will be their God
For they will return to me
With ALL their heart” Jeremiah 24:7
And when we return-
To our God-he will be waiting
For us-just like the PRODIGAL SON
For it is-NEVER TOO LATE
To RETURN to God
A God who is waiting for us-
Who LONGS for us-
And the RETURN of ALL of his people
Robert P. Wallman
9-11-16 and 7-07-2022 and 7-07-2023
Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.
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