Next Steps

Dear Friends,

The reading for Sunday, March 30 is Luke’s familiar story of the Prodigal Son. A young man longs to leave home and be on his own. He convinces his father to give him his share of the family wealth. The boy eagerly steps forth to a new life. The father and his second son mourn their loss but adjust to home and work life without him.

The traveler struggles and wastes away his financial and spiritual resources. He finds himself yearning for the home and family he left. He turns and retraces his steps, seeking even minimal reconciliation. The father sees him from afar and steps out to greet him. The broken traveler is welcomed and forgiven. His father celebrates the son’s safe return.

The boy’s desperate steps toward the family home call for responses from his father and brother. The father sees the struggling son from afar. He steps out to meet him, unconditionally welcoming him home and caring for the broken son. The second son holds back. There are no immediate steps toward reconciliation for him. He complains bitterly about the joyful reception of his irresponsible brother.

In reflecting on this story, I felt called to take some steps of my own. In my family and community life I have some unsettled relationships. There are people who need to know for sure that I recognize their acceptance and care. There are gestures of acceptance that I need to offer. These steps are part of my Lenten journey. Does this story call you, too, to take steps toward reconciliation?

~ Susan Schantz, SSJ