Reflections of a beloved son

BREAKING NEWS: GOD LISTENS!   He wants to hear from you, all about you.  When God said He would destroy Sodom, Abraham pleads with Him, asking if He would really destroy those who were good and righteous along with the wicked.  Then God and Abraham began to discuss the situation and bargaining took place.  God said that He would spare the city if He were to find 50 innocent people in Sodom.  Then Abraham asked "What if there were only 45?"  God said, "I will not destroy it if there are 45 innocent people."  Abraham proceeded to ask the same question with decreasing numbers - 40? 30? 20? 10?  God said that if He could find 10 innocent people, He would not destroy the city.  God listened to Abraham.  He didn't need to, but He chose to .  Why?  God listened to the pleading of Abraham because God loved him .  God doesn't have to listen to any of us.  He's all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present.  He created the un...

Selections from Part I of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Younger son (YS) – “give me” mentality, I deserve my inheritance, it belongs to me – I take; “The son is as impatient as the father was kind” (Peter Chrysologus).   (Grasping and grabbing)   Really saying to the Father:  “I wish you were dead.”  It is usually only when someone dies that we receive inheritance. Imagine what takes place during those few days before the son leaves.   When the son leaves and sets off to a distant country, he is not only leaving home, but he is leaving himself.   He wishes to leave his identity behind.   He wants to be his own person.   How often are we tempted by this?   “Be somebody” the world tells us.   Somebody powerful, rich, and famous.   Be somebody.   We are already somebody.   We are God’s beloved.   Each one of us.   We are loved by the Father from all eternity.   “I have loved you with...