A Latin spiritual journey with discerning hearts, from ashes to glory.

Day 18, the prodigal father's love.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke, chapter 15, verses 20 through 24.

So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off,

his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

Then 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, quickly, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him,

put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, and get the

fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive

again. He was lost and is found. And they began to celebrate.

In the story of the prodigal son,

we often focus on the son's journey of repentance.

But today, let us turn our attention to the father.

His love is extravagant, almost shocking. While the son is still far off,

the father runs to meet him, filled with compassion. There is no hesitation, no rebuke,

only mercy, welcome, and joy. This parable reveals the heart of God, a father who is always watching, always waiting,

and always ready to embrace us, no matter how far we've strayed. God's love is not transactional,

does not depend on our worthiness. He celebrates not because we earn forgiveness, but because we have come home to him. The Desert Fathers also emphasized the boundless mercy of God. Abba Pambow said,

If you have a heart, you can be saved. This simple, yet profound saying, reminds us that salvation begins with an open heart,

a willingness to turn back to God.

Similarly, St. Teresa Lassou reflecting on God's mercy, wrote,

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