Devotion of the day: return to God as the prodigal son

Departure of the prodigal son. What ingratitude, what pride, what arrogance this son flaunts by presenting himself in front of his father and saying: Give me my share, I want to go away, I want to enjoy it! Isn't it your portrait? After so many benefits from God, don't you also say: I want my freedom, I want to have my way, do I want to sin?… One day you were practicing, good, with peace in your heart; perhaps a false friend, a passion invited you to evil: and you left God… Are you perhaps happier now? How ungrateful and unhappy!

Disillusionment of the prodigal. The cup of pleasure, of whim, of the outpouring of passions, has honey on the edge, basically bitterness and poison! The prodigal, reduced poor and hungry, proved it to be the guardian of unclean animals. Do you not feel it too, after sin, after impurity, after revenge, and even after deliberate venial sin? What agitation, what disappointment, what remorse! Yet continue to sin!

Return of the prodigal. Who is this father who waits for the prodigal, who runs to meet him, embraces him, forgives him and rejoices with great celebration at the return of such an ungrateful son? It is God, always good, merciful, who forgets his rights as long as we return to him; which in an instant cancels your sins, although innumerable, adorns you with his grace, feeds you on his flesh ... Won't you trust in so much goodness? Cling to the Heart of God, and never depart from it again.

PRACTICE. - Repeat throughout the day: My Jesus, mercy.