He comes to himself. He wants to be reconciled, to be reunited, to be made whole again with those he loves, who once loved him, even at a distance. He ll be glad for slave status in his father s estate, if only he ll be taken back. In today s epistle, St. Paul talks about the ministry of reconciliation which has been entrusted to the Church, the faith community. Reconciliation means coming to yourself, re-establishing a close relationship that existed before, bringing back into harmony that which had fallen away, which had been broken.
Reconciliation means remembering that a relationship was once whole and loving.
Reconciliation means recognizing that something in a relationship is wrong and needs to be repaired. Reconciliation means acknowledging one s own part in the brokenness. Reconciliation plays a part in the life of every Christian. It is the work and responsibility of all Christians. When his father sees him from a distance, he runs toward him.