July 14

Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3, 19.

A wealthy nobleman had two sons. The older was a dutiful young man, but the younger was a wayward boy. He prepared to leave home, to see the world, and to enjoy life. To the warnings and petitions of his father he turned a deaf ear. Freed from the restraints of his father's house, he soon yielded to the temptations of sin, and finding companions minded as he was, he wasted his substance with riotous living.

We were all children of wrath by nature and beggarly poor; but in Holy Baptism we were born again and made members of the household of God and heirs of all the riches of Christ. Moreover, at our confirmation we pledged ourselves to remain in the house of the Father all the days of our lives.

Are you still in the Father's house, or have you imitated the prodigal son? The great majority, allured by sin and carried away by the lusts of the flesh, wander away from the Father's house. Many parents themselves lead their baptized children in the ways of the world, while others let them grow up without any religious instruction, so that the spiritual life which was planted in them must die for lack of nurture. Many of those also who have been carefully instructed in the fear of the Lord fall away.

If you, like this prodigal, have left the house of the Father, oh, then follow him also in this, that you heartily repent of your sins and return! If those who depart from the Father's house forget God, He nevertheless does not forget them. He seeks them, and if need be, He uses severe means to bring men to a sense of their wickedness. God sought this prodigal in poverty and hunger, and by God's grace he came to himself. O you, who once were the children of God, consider from whence you are fallen, and repent and do the first works. Come to yourselves and say: I will go to my Father. God receives penitent sinners. And He gives them the robe of righteousness purchased and won for them by Christ. The father's joy illustrates the Lord's joy over sinners who return.

Prayer.

Lord Jesus, who callest unto Thee all those that labor and are heavy laden to refresh them and give rest unto their souls, we pray Thee, keep us from impenitence and unbelief, so that none of us may go astray. Take off from us the spotted garment of the flesh and of our own righteousness and adorn us with the garment of the merit earned with Thy blood. Strengthen our faith, increase our love and hope, and in the life to come make us sit at Thy heavenly table, where Thou wilt give us to eat of the eternal manna and to drink of the river of Thy pleasures in the house of our heavenly Father. Amen.

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched, Weak and wounded, sick and sore! Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love, and power; He is able, He is willing; doubt no more.---