Finding the Lost Heart

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:03 pm Post subject: Finding the Lost Heart

Finding the Lost Heart

Scripture:

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get you down: your people, which you have brought out of the land of Egypt, have sinned. They have quickly strayed from the way which you did show them: and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and have adored it, and sacrificing victims to it, have said: These are your gods, O Israel, that have brought you out of the land of Egypt. And again the Lord said to Moses: I see that this people is stiff necked: Let me alone, that my wrath may be kindled against them, and that I may destroy them, and I will make of you a great nation. But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O Lord, is your indignation enkindled against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, saying: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will give to your seed, and you shall possess it for ever: And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people.
(Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14)

I give him thanks who has strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he has counted me faithful, putting me in the ministry: Who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and offender. But I obtained the mercy of God, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. Now the grace of our Lord has abounded exceedingly with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. A faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. But for this cause have I obtained mercy: that in me first Christ Jesus might show forth all patience, for the information of them that shall believe in him unto life everlasting. Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(1 Timothy 1:12-17)

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: What man of you that has a hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he has found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing? And coming home, call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost? I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that does penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.

Or what woman having ten coins, if she lose one coin, does not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbors, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost. So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.

And he said: 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 the house of my father 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 you. 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 15:1-32)

Reflection:

The same people who witnessed the plagues stirred against their Egyptian masters and who witnessed the parting of the sea, soon forgot such moments and the power of their Creator which brought them forth. Rather than seeking the One who delivered them, they decided to create their own god to worship; a god of fantasy which took form by their hands, but which had no life within it, for though it could be seen, it was inanimate. Its only power was that of a distraction; a distraction from the true God, the only One with the power by which the universe was made.

Though they could see what was false, they could not see the One who created them. They trusted the world, but they did not comprehend the One who created the world. Because of their error, they wandered in confusion and became lost within the fog of their desires.

How many times have we wandered in life, not certain of the path before us, not knowing our direction; experiencing, but not comprehending the truth which should guide us? Perhaps we struggle to recognize truth, for there is but one truth, yet so many deceptions are arrayed before us, designed to distract and confuse us. We might wonder, how are we to know truth if we are unable to recognize that which reveals it? If we do not know, then, we wander; perhaps not even recognizing how we are lost or how far we have traveled away from truth.

As we seek our path, we wander in a world of many false prophets and those who feel compelled to deceive. When we trust that which is false, we are lured away from what is true. When our reason is flawed, so too is error introduced. For this reason, and because of our imperfections, we need a guide, but if we do not find the right guide, then, we shall remain lost. (cf. Luke 6:39)

All is not hopeless, for our Heavenly Father desires that none of the children of His creation shall be lost. It is for this reason, He sent His only begotten Son, so that He might teach us in truth. It is for this reason, after He brought His Holy Son to sit at His right side, that He sent the Holy Spirit to lead us to His Holy Truth. Though we may wander, if we seek the Holy Spirit in prayer, He will find us and point the way home.

Let us, then, seek the hand of the Holy Spirit. Let us allow Him to lead us to our Savior. With a contrite heart, let us respond to His call, so we may be brought home to the love and embrace of our Lord.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we turn to and follow that which is in error?

In what ways do we recognize the consequences of error?

In what ways do we seek the hand of the One sent to find us and remind us of the truth we need?

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