Luke 15:31b. “everything I have is yours…” 10/24/19
Reflecting on the parable of the Prodigal Son, the phrase that resonated with me this day was “everything I have is yours…”. I’ve always been struck by the magnanimity of God’s generosity, by the super abundance of what he desires to give to us. My Bible is often highlighted at the words of superlatives, as I see more and more His desire to offer so lavishly from His treasures, while we so often settle for such a pittance, not expecting bounty.
CS Lewis writes, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” And sometimes we’re not pleased with the little either…
This brings me to a homily shared from his personal treasure store by our pastor, Fr Luke. He recalled a time of healing he received in the course of a directed retreat. As I remember it, the director was asking him about the up-coming Christmas celebrations, and Fr Luke responded that he always had a bit of a cloud over those celebrations. He shared that as a young boy in a large family, each child usually received one special large present and perhaps a few smaller ones. When it came his turn to open what he thought would be his much anticipated special gift, it turned out to be some mittens. He tried not to betray his disappointment, but it left him with a feeling of deep disappointment and of being overlooked and forgotten. His parents immediately realized they had actually forgotten his special gift, and made a hasty trip to buy him something special, but the wound had been created and remained with him even to this time of the retreat. The director suggested he take this to prayer, and ask the Lord where He was in this moment in time, as He was there, even though not in Luke’s awareness at the time.
Fr Luke came to prayer and returned to this memory, asking the Lord to reveal His truth in the situation. He envisioned the moment, and this time saw his older brother coming to comfort him and to assure him that indeed Luke could share and play with all of his brother’s toys, as indeed “everything I have is yours…”. The pain of the disappointment vanished as Fr Luke recognized Christ in His brother, offering all the treasures of the Father’s house to Luke.
Christmas celebrations became no longer a source of sadness and deprivation, but rather an assurance of God’s Goodness and abundant provision, of comfort and of love.
This recollection often brings tears to my eyes, even today when I related it to a friend. The sense of God’s desire to bless me abundantly is revealed to me over and over again as I experience His Goodness in day to day living, and fills my heart with gratitude! Yesterday He surprised me as I came from out of town to a conference of about 1000 people and walked in right next to a good pastor I’ve known for 20 years and had been hoping to see, and led me to a table where I turned around and found 8 ladies from a prayer group that were all so dear to my heart. Hugs and smiles and joy flowed as we were all so delighted at the unexpected meeting! Eph 3:20 comes to mind, “Now to him who is able to accomplish more than all we ask or imagine…”.
Lord God, thank You for the abundance of Your Goodness and Grace! May my capacity of expectant faith continue to grow as I experience Your Goodness overflowing, again and again. May I be ever grateful for Your desire to bless us in so many varied ways, even outside of time as You bring restoration and healing to our hearts…
Spiritual Sun Pennies 