Day 25 – The Lavish Love of God
Cantonese
Mandarin
English
While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. The younger son said to the father, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son." But his father ordered his servants, "Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet."
His father didn't allow him to finish his confession! He hurried to put on his son the finest robe, a ring and sandals that symbolized the restoration of his identity! That was before the son had the chance to tell his father to treat him as his servant. Instead of taking on the servant's role, the son was instantly restored to his original but forgone identity. His honour was reinstated and was immediately served by his father's servants, even though his appearance was so despicable!
Why didn't the father allow his son to finish his confession? Didn't he want to hear what his son had to say? Or at least to savor the moment to be consoled by his son’s sincere apology and the opportunity for his pierced heart to be healed? Apparently, the father’s focus was not on himself but on the son. This long lost but newly found son was everything in the father's eyes!
REFLECTION
I am filthy due to my sins
Ashamed beyond words
My sins have caused me to close my heart
And feel undeserving of your mercy
But your arms have always remained open
Waiting for my return one day
And you will baptize me with your love
Telling me you love me above all things
You have transformed my ugliness into beauty
my lowliness into dignity
Reinstating my identity as a child of the Father
Giving new lives to sinners, without regarding Your pain and suffering
Through Your forgiveness and consolation
I let go of all my regrets
So that I can reunite with You with a pure heart
(I shall reunite with You with a pure heart. From this day onward, I will offer my pure heart as a holy sacrifice to God the Father)
TODAY'S PRAYER
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
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親愛的阿爸父：祢對我細膩而真實的愛，使我的感謝無盡！我是一個令祢傷心的女兒，祢竟毫不計較地以祢慈悲愛情包圍我，願我能成為祢的所有，全心歸向祢！
阿爸父，祢對我無微不至的愛情使我感激無盡，私慾偏情使我犯錯，傷了祢的心。求祢扶助我的軟弱，增強我信望愛得，順服祢的旨意，全心歸向祢。亞孟。
聖史路加在《蕩子的比喻》的描述中，父子重逢的這一幕，實在是賺人熱淚，感人萬分。作者將那份兒子深切的痛悔，父親不計較的大愛，完全表露得淋漓盡致，同時也展示了天父的愛，就是那麼深，那麼徹底。
筆者每次讀到這片段，內心總會暗暗地泛起點點淚水，因為天主也曾給自己這份愛的寬恕，再不去計較過往的一切過犯，唯一的是仍然緊緊擁抱着那個曾傷害了祂的不肖兒。
仁慈的天父，是祢的愛溶化了我，使我回頭改過。求祢幫助我不要再次失足跌倒，遠離祢的慈愛。
祢用慈愛的眼神注視著我；我以匆匆的腳步離開了祢。
祢用盼望的眼神遙望著我；我以躊躇的心情歸向祢。
祢以溫柔的胸懷擁抱我；我用痛悔的眼淚灑向祢。
從今以後，我要洗心革面，不要再讓祢傷心。我要天天守著祢不再離開祢。我要時時注視著祢的手，指引我走向光明的道路。
Oh Lord, I know I can never return Your lavish love for me. Please Help me to be more vigilant as not to be led astray from the path back Home! Open up my heart and let my every act be done according to Your will, instead of piercing through Your heart.
愛是美麗的，但是應該要有條件的。
天主比世人的愛，卻是白白的，更是出自真心選擇性的。這令我五體投地??
天父愛
傾注暖心田
生命點燃隨十架
去除惡習力行前
悅主撰新篇
I feel the merciful love of God and his great forgiveness when we return to Him.