The prophet Daniel did a beautiful prayer of supplication. The first
reading expressed the situation of sin – wickedness, betrayal,
disobedience, shame. In the gospel Christ spoke about forgiveness, to
stop judging and condemning. It is in the land of sin that we meet the
infinite mercy of God. The consequence of sin is serious. It brings
unhappiness, division, misery, to enter into the life of the Prodigal
son when he left his father’s house. After living a life of debauchery
he experienced he found himself empty and hungry. He was even willing
to eat the food of the hogs. It was then that he remembered his father
and started on a journey home.
Christ did not judge and condemn us in our sins but forgave us and
showed us the extent of His love. The Father showed us in Christ what
kind of love He has for us, it is a love for the unlovable, a love for
the sinner. What touches the heart of the Father? It is not the self-
righteous but the repentant sinner. He is the one that seeks out the
Lost Sheep, the Father who waits patiently for the return of the son.
Upon the return of the son, the Father runs to meet him, dressed him
in fine robes and put on him the ring of sonship. Have we ever
experienced this? If we have then this will make us more
compassionate, forgiving and judge less the other. This is how the
world will know about the existence of such kind of love
