Have you ever lost something important to you?

Well, I tend to keep St. Anthony busy. In addition to my keys, which I misplace all the time, the car in parking lots, and my driver’s license, I once lost my ring, the one I received at my final vows. I searched high and low, through pockets, bags, garbage cans. I tore apart my office and searched the shower. Then, two days later, I pulled clothes out of my laundry hamper, and – thunk. There it was on the floor. A sense of relief washed over me. Thank God! A miracle!

This Sunday, we’ll hear stories about several lost things: a sheep, a coin, and a son. The story of the son, often referred to as the “prodigal” son, may be one you’ve heard a thousand times. The younger son behaves badly. Not only does he demand his inheritance while his father is alive and well, but he spends it all livin la vida loca, returning home only because he’s hungry. It ends with the sulky older brother complaining. Because he’s been “good” all his life, he thinks he should be rewarded. But this father clearly doesn’t care about following the rules. He just wants to be in relationship with his sons. He is extravagant, even wasteful, in how he loves them.

Full disclosure: I’m usually the whiny older brother when I read this story, but I have it in me to be the bratty younger one, too. I take God for granted. I ignore God’s call to prayer. I can blame God when things go wrong, even though it’s likely my own darn fault. It’s easy to identify with either or both of these ungrateful boys.

However, now I’m feeling this story from the father’s perspective. It was an immense relief to find my ring! And that’s just an object. It’s even more of a delight to reconnect with a friend who seemed lost to me through a disagreement or misunderstanding. All broken relationships can’t be reconciled – sometimes there’s too much hurt or betrayal or toxicity. However, when reconciliation is possible, when two people who love each other can restore a relationship, it feels like a miracle! It probably is a miracle.

Human beings are complicated in this. We sometimes need discernment and healthy boundaries and self-protection when relationships break down. However, God, who is infinite mystery, is not complicated in this. God wants us to return no matter what. God loves us whether we’re bratty or whiny, lost, searching, wayward, or unfaithful. When we are lost and return to God, God rejoices.

Given how convoluted human relationships are, and what a mess I can be, it’s hard to believe this. However, knowing how good it feels to find something, or someone, that was lost gives me a glimpse of what that might be like for God. Like the father in the parable, God is indulgent in loving us. I fail a thousand times, get lost, stray. God just waits patiently until I can be spotted in the distance. God embraces me and welcomes me back. God just wants to love me. God just wants to love you, too.

I think of those words we hear every Ash Wednesday from the prophet Joel, but we don’t have to wait till then. The door is always open. “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.”

God doesn’t care where we’ve been or why we got lost, except to heal us and move us toward wholeness. God just wants you back. God wants me back. So, let’s return. Even now. With our whole hearts.

For Reflection:

• Have you ever found something you’ve lost? What was that like?

• What is it like to reconcile with a loved one? What is it like to reconcile with God?

• What keeps you from opening to God with your whole heart?

• How have you experienced the indulgent love of God?

By Sister Leslie Keener, CDP

Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She’s a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, meaningful conversations, dancing — and finding lost things, of course!