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. He doesn t know why the son is back, maybe he wants more money. And he doesn t care.