Monday after the Third Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on June 26, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV)
15:11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
Devotion
Good works are necessary for one to be truly faithful. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Works do not save us, nor do they add anything to what Christ has done to give us forgiveness and life. Our Lord wants us to be faithful in all things, with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. But Satan tempts us to disconnect faith and works, and have us focus on one or the other to make us weak and confused.
The son who squandered his livelihood on sin had only bad works to show for his time, but when he repented the father still showed him love and graciousness. On the other hand, the older son had works, but he lacked mercy and humility. Jesus shows us through the father of these two sons that love, compassion, and outward deeds should all be understood in their proper place and context.
Our Savior’s entire earthly ministry was an example of a faithful spirit and righteous works in perfect harmony. Much of His teaching directs us to works of love and discipline, but all of it directs us to humility and submission to the Father’s truth. We must realize, like the younger son, we are sinners who have been foolish and wasteful; but we must also avoid the pride and vanity of the older son who failed to see with eyes of grace and mercy.
Prayer: O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy; that Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal. that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
