The process of Change starts from the Younger Son and not from the Father

Gospel Thoughts*

*Lent : Second Week: Saturday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 15:1-3, 11-32*

*First Reading - Mi 7:14-15, 18-20*

*The process of Change starts from the Younger Son and not from the Father*

*I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him*

*1) Son starts thinking of Changing his life*

The prodigal son, when he realised his wretched condition of eating the food of the swine and taking care of them, thinks of changing his life

He not only thinks, but makes a firm decision to come back and also to ask sorry for the things he has committed 

He does not waste time any more thinking about the past, but looks at the future and starts immediately into action 

He immediately gets up and starts coming back to his father to change his life 

*2) I shall get up - getting up is a powerful gesture*

Usually a person who falls to the ground needs to get up in order to move forward

Without getting up one can't move and make any progress in any way 

Getting up also reveals that the person has fall down and shows the willingness to get up and proceed 

Getting up is a strong gesture of determination which empowers the person to achieve something great 

Getting up becomes a new starting point, which gives a new direction to ones life 

*3) The entire process of Change starts from the prodigal Son*

The turning point in this parable is the realisation and willingness to change the life by younger son 

If the younger son had not realised and of he didn't think of getting up and coming back to his father, the story would have ended in a different way 

The present ending of the story only because the younger son got up and came back to his father realising his mistakes 

So the starting point becomes very important, that is younger sons getting up and going back

*4) Mere realising of the mistake is not sufficient*

It was not the mere realisation of the younger son which led a great change in him, but his strong determination to change his life and willingness to get up and go back 

So mere realisation without any concrete action becomes a useless exercise 

*5) Am I ready to get up?*

It is very important to get up from our fallen state 

It is not enough to have a desire to change ones way of life, but willingness to get up and move forward is very much necessary

If so am I ready to get from where I am? 

What can I do to get up and move forward?

*6) Lent is a special time to get up*

To get up from our sinfulness, and to move towards holiness 

To get up from our ghetto mentality and to move towards open mindedness

To get up from our selfishness and to move towards generosity

To get up from our pride and to move towards the humility

To get up from pomp and glory and to move towards simplicity

To get up from laziness and to move towards activeness and creativity 

*Am I ready for the process of Getting up?*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*