Shallom Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ...
It might be kind of late in updating a post about the recent Friday Gathering (yesterday - 09 March 2012), but there shouldn't be any problems to share the joyfulness we've encountered during the gathering rite. Hahaa. The theme for this week Friday Gathering is "Life In Big Ways" and I'm personally felt glad over the efforts made by Joe, Catherine Mau and Silverstar to bring out some activities for this week gathering. Thanks a lot to all of you! Not to forget, Elovera as P.I.C for the music and her music assist - Arthur James. Dearest thankful too, for those who've attended the gathering, it was great to see you all again! ^_^ And yes, Happy Birthday to Rosita Bunga, she has officially turned 20 by 9 March 2012! Rosita, thanks for the cake, wish you all the best in everything! My regret is that I didn't manage to capture those moments. Haiz. Haha.
Anyway, as I browsed through some daily meditation newsletters in my email inbox, I felt like as if I am called to share this to all of you today - Saturday, 10 March Daily Meditation - "I Will Arise and Go To My Father".
Gospel Reading: Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable:
And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."'
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.
"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
Old Testament Reading: Micah 7: 14-15, 18-20
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt I will show them marvelous things. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger for ever because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion upon us, he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
Reflections
How can you love someone who turns their back on you and still forgive them from the heart? The prophets remind us that God does not abandon us, even if we turn our backs on him (Micah 7:18). He calls us back to himself – over and over and over again. Jesus' story of the father and his two sons (sometimes called the parable of the prodigal son) is the longest parable in the gospels. What is the main point or focus of the story? Is it the contrast between an obedient and a disobedient son or is it between the warm reception given to a spendthrift son by his father and the cold reception given by the eldest son? Jesus contrasts the father's merciful love with the eldest son's somewhat harsh reaction to his errant brother and to the lavish party his joyful father throws for his repentant son.
While the errant son had wasted his father's money, his father, nonetheless, maintained unbroken love for his son. The son, while he was away, learned a lot about himself. And he realized that his father had given him love which he had not returned. He had yet to learn about the depth of his father's love for him. His deep humiliation at finding himself obliged to feed on the husks of pigs and his reflection on all he had lost, led to his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his father. While he hoped for reconciliation with his father, he could not have imagined a full restoration of relationship. The father did not need to speak words of forgiveness to his son; his actions spoke more loudly and clearly! The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet symbolize the new life – pure, worthy, and joyful – of anyone who returns to God.
The prodigal could not return to the garden of innocence, but he was welcomed and reinstated as a son. The errant son's dramatic change from grief and guilt to forgiveness and restoration express in picture-language the resurrection from the dead, a rebirth to new life from spiritual death. The parable also contrasts mercy and its opposite – unforgiveness. The father who had been wronged, was forgiving. But the eldest son, who had not been wronged, was unforgiving. His unforgiveness turns into contempt and pride. And his resentment leads to his isolation and estrangement from the community of forgiven sinners.
In this parable Jesus gives a vivid picture of God and what God is like. God is truly kinder than us. He does not lose hope or give up when we stray. He rejoices in finding the lost and in welcoming them home. Do you know the joy of repentance and the restoration of relationship as a son or daughther of your heavenly Father?
Our Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, may I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful. Amen"
Psalm 103: 1-12
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Source: Don Schwager Daily Meditation, Kairos-Eme Website
We might be quite familiar with the parable of the prodigal son, right? Few weeks ago, if you still remember, Alvin (our president) has showed us three videos portraying about this parable. :) Imagine that we're on the side of the son, we might think that we are not worthy to be home again. We felt so much shamefulness and guilty that we couldn't bear the thoughts and expectations of being rejected. But the son eventually came back, yet he didn't expect to be accepted as a son again - Realised on how he had done big mistakes, he humbled himself, he just wanted to be one of the servants of his father. Instead, his father accepted him, and held a merry to celebrate his homecoming. This is the 'Father', that Jesus want to introduce to all of us. He is always be waiting...
As for this week' Friday Gathering, we've been asked to describe in ONE WORD what is LIFE for us. It was pretty amazing and great to see on the results - Challenges, Challenging, Awesome, Wonders, Complicated, Music, Move, Expectations, Stress, Vogue, Care, Meaningful, Inevitable, Chocolate and few more - Yes they are all about Life... We experienced them in our daily life. There are sweet and bitter moments, as a chocolate might taste in your mouth, and there are ups and downs, which many times we might found life is so complicated, stressing us out. We begin to question, why? why? and why? But, there's always something behind everything. In every situation, even in our deepest wound and disappointment - no matter what, there's HOPE in God.. As He is always waiting for us to come back home again... :)
May this Lent Season would bring us into remembering more of God's kindness to us. He gifted us His only son, how great is His love to us! (^_^).. Next week gathering, we would be bang-ed with a wide discussed issue in this world nowadays - Prophecy and 2012 (End of Times?). Therefore, do make sure to come, mark your calendar - 16 March 2012 - I have a date with CUS ok! Hahaha.
Have a great weekend Everyone! Rejoice in the Lord Always. Adios... (^_^)
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