← Day 5 - Jesus, I Trust in You! Day 7 - My Departure →

Day 6 – A Sword That Pierced His Heart

Cantonese

Mandarin

English

A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, "Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me." So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country…

(Luke 15:11-13)

Imagine for a minute what flashes through the father's mind the moment the son demands his share of his father's estate. A heart-wrenching pain struck him as he listened between the lines of what his son said to his face.

I don't care about you, whether you are alive or dead. Just give me my share of the inheritance I will be entitled to when you die!

I no longer want to have any relationship with you. I want no part of you nor this family!

I can't stand staying with you any longer! I can’t wait until you are dead to leave you!

What you have done for me over the years means absolutely nothing to me!

I have no time to speak with you and I don't love you anymore. Just divide your property, give me my share, and let me go!

Judging from the character of the father in the parable, one can hardly believe there is any valid reason that would justify the son's action. You can imagine how shocked the father was when his son made such a demand on him. No words could describe the pain in his heart.

If you were the father, how would you feel? And how would you react to your son's demand? What would have gone through your mind?

What happened?

What have I done wrong to deserve this cruel treatment from you, my beloved child?

What can I do to make him stay?

Why don't you understand, my child? Will you ever understand my heart for you?

What… why…

Suddenly, years of sacrifices are worth nothing! The father's heart is broken, and he wonders why this would ever happen to him. Logic stops making sense… Time seems to have frozen… No word comes out of his mouth, and their gazes find nowhere to meet…

"What happened to my beloved child? I know I am losing him…"

A million years seemed to have passed within a split second. "What should I tell him?" the father asked himself.

Feeling his heart pierced and shattered, he divided his property and let him go…

And there, he left!

REFLECTION

Do you feel the pain of the father's heart? Can you relate to him?

Do you wonder why the father let his child go? Why did the father allow his son to have his way?

Can you relate to this story? Sounds familiar? Someone you know, someone you hate, someone you love, someone… you?

TODAY'S PRAYER

My Lord, and my God, my heart aches just to think about what You have experienced all these years since You have created mankind, and since You have created me. I don't know how you could tolerate all such nonsense from me all these years… from a thought that offended you, silently going through my mind, to any of my actions that pierced your heart! I can hardly imagine nor comprehend just how much you have suffered because of me, and of all humankind throughout history! Help me to connect with You once again, my dear Father, and allow me to soothe your pain. Father, I love You!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

If you find this reflection helpful and have not registered to receive our daily email, we invite you to sign up here. If you have a Facebook account and would like to share your thoughts there, we invite you to join this Facebook group .

Sincerely invite you to share the reflections that inspires you by this day's retreat.

18 Comments

Linda Chan on February 22, 2021 at 7:18 pm

Next time when someone does something that pierces my heart, I will remember that I have been doing this to God all through my life…
Doris Tan on February 22, 2021 at 11:34 pm

Lord i am truly sorry. I have hurt by husband with words that pierced in his heart. Whatever i do i did to you and hurt you time and again. I was unable to love him. Help me to love him as you have love. Grant me your words each time i speak to him so that your words will change and draw him close and desire for a conversion of heart.
Jesus I Trust in you.
- Stella Grace on February 28, 2021 at 11:04 pm
  
  Thank you Jesus for all the blessings and in my life.
  I was not alone when I went through so much of struggles.
  I am what I am today is because of you lord.
  Now I am surrounded with my children love and my my friends like angels when I am sad, lonely in trouble.
  ???
Marie Bernadette Cheng on February 23, 2021 at 7:54 pm

Jesus, when I sin, I am like the youngest son who asked his father for his inheritance and left to the far country. Jesus, please help me to love you each day more and more.