Those Who Are Lost May Still Be Found

Prayer-Soldier

Those Who Are Lost May Still Be Found

Scripture:

And the Lord said to Josue: This day have I taken away from you the reproach of Egypt. And the name of that place was called Galgal, until this present day. And the children of Israel abode in Galgal, and they kept the passover, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, in the plains of Jericho: And they ate on the next day unleavened bread of the corn of the land, and frumenty of the same year. And the manna ceased after they ate of the corn of the land, neither did the children of Israel use that food any more, but they ate of the corn of the present year of the land of Chanaan. (Joshua 5:9-12)

If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away. Behold all things are made new. But all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins. And he has placed in us the word of reconciliation. For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us, for Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God. Him, who knew no sin, he has made sin for us: that we might be made the justice of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receives sinners and eats with them. And he spoke to them this parable, saying:

A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falls to me. And he divided unto them his substance. And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.

And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country: and he began to be in want. And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father?s house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger! I will arise and will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee. I am not worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.

And rising up, he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and running to him fell upon his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him: Father: I have sinned against heaven and before you I am not now worthy to be called your son. And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat and make merry: Because this my son was dead and is come to life again, was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said to him: Your brother is come and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe. And he was angry and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him. And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve you and I have never transgressed your commandment: and yet you have never given me a kid to make merry with my friends. But as soon as this your son is come, who has devoured his substance with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted calf. But he said to him: Son, you are always with me; and all I have is yours. But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad: for this your brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)

Reflection:

The journey of our lives contains many steps. At times we are at rest and at times we move to new ground. As we walk each day, we experience and learn from one another. So too, do we have the opportunity to experience and learn from God, but He has left such learning to our choice. As we walk our steps, if we seek Him, He will guide us to a better place; but if we do not listen for Him or look for the ways through which He seeks to guide us, we will wander to empty paths. Blessed are those who seek Him, for He will sharpen them, build them, and guide them to the blessings of His mercy, peace, and love. He will sustain them along the way and grant them the strength to face the challenges of the world. He will enlighten them to see what is possible through living by His Word.

As the generations have come forth, He has walked with every one. As the days have passed, the children of His creation have advanced in many ways; but when they allow selfishness to guide them, they fall to trouble and strife. He has given all the Word so that He might lift them to new heights.

Some will see, but others struggle with comprehending and understanding His ways. Some stand with arrogance and demand that He adapt to their ways. They seek to control His church and reject His Word. They do not see that they were created in His image, rather, they seek to create a god according to their desire.

In each generation there are those who pursue their own way. Though He sent His Son to establish His church so that all might learn and live by His ways, there are those so bold to say that the ways of people have left His church behind, that if the church built upon rock wishes to gather the people, it must adapt to the desires of people. It is the deception of the evil one to seduce the people to believe they are wiser than their Creator. It is the deception of the evil one to seduce people to believe the ways of personal desire and selfishness will yield more than following the Word of God.

Blessed are those who understand that it is they who must reconcile to Him and not He to them, for as they draw to Him, they draw near to the blessings of eternity. Blessed are those who walk to Him, for they will come to know the blessings of His eternal love. Blessed are those who come to Him, for they will know peace.

Fortunate are those who have wandered away, for He waits for each of the children of His creation with patience. In the moment they comprehend the depth of their emptiness without Him, He is ready to accept them back with His warm embrace. His desire is to hold each of the children of His creation near to Him for each one is special in His eyes. Billions of voices have been raised across the generations and He has heard everyone.

It is with sadness that He watches as some choose to turn from Him, but with love, He waits for those who drift. It is with great joy that He opens His arms to those who return to Him, for what was once lost is now found. He loves the faithful and rejoices in them, for they have always been with Him; but He seeks for all to rejoice when any of the lost children of His creation return home.

And so it has been through the generations, those selfish and arrogant of heart chose to walk their own paths, create their own gods, and seek to impose oppression where love should reign. It is for this reason the world is filled with conflict and tragedy. He allows all in this time so that each soul will learn, each soul will choose. The paths of emptiness and the possibilities of charity and love lay before us. The evil one will seek to seduce the children of His creation with selfish desire, but God will continue to hold out His hand of love.

It is the choice for each soul. All have been given their inheritance through what was done for them on the cross. It is our choice as to what becomes of it. May the faithful pray for the souls of those who squander what was given to them. May the faithful not judge, but rejoice when any child who is lost finds their way back to Him, for it is in such rejoicing that the commandments to love are shared. It is in that rejoicing He knows we care.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier