Come Into The Word with Sarah Christmyer | Bible Study | Lectio Divina | Journals | Retreat

  • About
  • Blog
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact

THE BIBLE: A BOOK FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE BROKEN

November 20, 2015 By Sarah Christmyer 1 Comment

(6th and final post in a series for National Bible Week. Reflection on Luke 15:11-32)

“Aren’t you going home for the holidays?” someone asked Bob as he signed up for December overtime.

“Are you kidding?” he replied with a sharp laugh. “They wouldn’t have me if I went.”

Few families are immune from scenes like this. A young man, eager to do his own thing, breaks ties and runs. A woman, feeling misunderstood and tired of fighting, starts a new family miles from home and doesn’t look back. A brother chafes against the family business. A daughter wants to be free. Feelings are hurt or worse. Slights real and imagined add up and reconciliation seems impossible.

God is no stranger to dysfunctional family life. His own children left him, disobeyed, even betrayed him by worshiping other gods or their own desires. Thank God, he never gives up on his children!

Jesus illustrated God’s mercy with a parable of a father and two sons. One is obviously “prodigal”—he rejects his father, makes an early grab at his inheritance, leaves home and wastes it all on “loose living.” The older son stays home but is no more attached to the family than his kid brother. He has more appreciation for his friends than for his father, whose relationship he describes in terms of slavery and obligation. In a sense, he too has renounced his sonship.

What pain that father must feel! And yet “everything he has” belongs to the older son and he lives waiting for the younger to return. When the prodigal comes home, Dad doesn’t wait for an explanation, let alone an apology. He stretches his arms wide and runs out to meet him. All is forgiven. As far as he is concerned, the young man has come back from the dead. In contrast, the older brother sulks in the shadows, resentful. He insists on his own rights and will not forgive. He is unable to enter the father’s joy.

Where are you in this story? Are you the prodigal, longing for home? Are you like the older son, unwilling to accept the wanderer back? Or are you like the father, holding out your arms, ready to forgive?

Our heavenly Father, who forgives us even when we stray, calls us to be his true children by extending his love to those who wrong us. In this way, “God’s way of loving becomes the measure of human love,” said Pope Benedict XVI (Encyclical Deus Caritas Est, 2005). It can be hard—but God’s grace is enough. His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Find your story in God’s story. Read the parable of the Prodigal Son together with friends or family, hearing it as God’s word spoken to you. Ponder what God says; reflect on how it speaks to your lives; respond in prayer; rest in his love.

© 2015 Sarah Christmyer. This post was previously published as a reflection on EntertheStoryNow.com under the title, “Does Your Family Have a Child Who Wants to Come Home?”

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for waiting for us, for running to us, for celebrating over our return, for giving us all things. Help those who are lost to come back to their senses and back to us. Help us to wait as you do, and to embrace as you do the people in our life who want to come home. Gather us all into your heavenly feast. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

+ + + + + + +

Look for these daily posts during National Bible Week, November 16-20 (links will be active after they post):

  • THE BIBLE: A BOOK FOR THE FAMILY (Series introduction and reflection on Esther)
  • THE BIBLE: A BOOK FOR FAMILIES caught in a storm (Reflection on Matthew 14:22-23)
  • THE BIBLE: A BOOK FOR FAMILIES who have been delivered – or who need a miracle! (Reflection on Exodus 14:29-30; 15:1-2, 19-21)
  • THE BIBLE: A BOOK FOR FAMILIES who are asking, “Now what?” (Reflection on Luke 1:26-38)
  • THE BIBLE: A BOOK FOR FAMILIES who pray for the impossible (Reflection on Acts 12:4-19)
  • THE BIBLE: A BOOK FOR FAMILIES that are broken (Reflection on Luke 15:11-32)

+ + + + + + +

Download these resources from the Catholic Ministries of the American Bible Society, prepared for the World Meeting of Families. Discussion Guides relate to the Scripture in this blog post:

  • Family Discussion Guide
  • Parish Discussion Guide
  • Gospel of Luke 22-day “Journey” – Family Lectio Divina 

Natl Bible Week logo

Filed Under: Bible Reading, Study, Scripture Reflection Tagged With: National Bible Week

Comments

  1. mitch carroll says

    November 20, 2015 at 7:34 am

    Thank you so much for reminding us of the example of unlimited love. I too have “issues” with my oldest son. Your words make me want to call him immediately. Thanks for prodding this father to take action.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 characters available

Sarah Christmyer writes and speaks about Scripture and the Catholic faith with the goal of helping people meet Jesus in his Word. “The Bible isn’t just a book about God or instructions for a good life; it’s a place to meet God and be changed by him,” she says. Her love of Scripture fuels her writing of Bible studies and related books; her teaching of Philadelphia seminarians; her speaking at conferences and retreats; and writing for blogs such as this one. “Come Into the Word” draws people into the Bible and encourages and equips them to explore it on their own.

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

Search Come Into The Word

Categories

Recent Posts

  • TRUST IN GOD; HE’S GOT YOUR BACK
  • FINDING JOY AT CHRISTMAS
  • FOCUSING ON THE CHRIST CHILD with the O Antiphons
  • THANKSGIVING PSALMS: Drowning grief in gratitude
  • YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU: How to fill your heavenly “handbag”
  • RETURNING TO GOD…AND PRAYERS FOR UKRAINE

Archives

Recommended

  • Integrated Catholic Life – Catholic blogs and resources
  • Lux App and Lux University – online faith hub for women
  • Peter Kreeft – featured writings and audio
  • The Sacred Page (Michael Barber, John Bergsma, Brant Pitre, John Kincaid) – blog
  • Scripture Speaks (Gayle Somers) – commentary on the Mass readings
  • Speaking of Scripture (Mary Healy, Daniel Keating, Peter Williamson, et al) – blog
  • Women in the New Evangelization (WINE) – women’s ministry, book club, blog

 

We engage in affiliate marketing whereby we receive funds through clicks to our affiliate program through this website. This disclosure is intended to comply with the US Federal Trade Commission Rules on marketing and advertising, as well as any other legal requirements which may apply.

 

Let’s Connect

mailfacebook instagram pinterest

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

MENU

  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Home

Copyright © 2023 Come into the Word LLC | Site designed by Cynthia Oswald

  • About
  • Blog
    △
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    △
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    △
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact