Faithfulness

This Sunday's Gospel reading contains the story of the prodigal son. This is a familiar story that reminds each of us about God's faithfulness despite our own selfish actions. This is a faithfulness that should not be taken lightly... it also should not be taken advantage of. God's faithfulness is not an excuse to fall down, but it also isn't an excuse to stay down when we have fallen. And getting up after a fall is exactly what we strive to do as turtles!

There are other stories wrapped into the Gospel along with the prodigal son story. The Gospel begins:

"Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So to them he addressed this parable.
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?"

Note the irony here. Jesus says, "What man would not leave the 99 in the desert and go after the lost one?" Well... none of them would, that would be stupid. What would prevent the other 99 from wandering off in the shepherd's absence? But Jesus isn't implying that God is somehow a bad shepherd, he is making a radical statement about the depth of God's faithfulness to each of his loved ones. A radical statement that each of us should take to heart during services this weekend.

This is a big weekend for America. We commemorate the anniversary of September 11th. A despicable act of violence that has led to equally despicable wars, suffering and acts of intolerance and hate (one Church is planning to commemorate the event by burning Qur'ans). All of these events serve as a constant reminder that we so often stray from Jesus' teaching to Love. Let us reflect on, and thank God for, God's faithfulness!

Our God loves turtles! Peace!