Thursday, 4 November, 2004

This week's devotions are written by Redeemer member John Caron.



I used to be an active collector of quotes. This series of devotions will be based on some of my favorites.



I Pray incessantly

for the conversion

of the prodigal son's

brother.



Ever in my ear

rings the dread warning:

"The one has awoken

from his life of sin.

When will the other

awaken

from his virtue?"

Dom Helder Camara

A Thousand Reasons for Living

This quotation has a great deal of meaning for me because of the way that it turns the parable of the prodigal son on its side. Camara's focus is not on the prodigal son, but on the "good" son, who, in the end, was caught in a cycle of unrepentant, jealous hatred. It is worth noting that the parable is silent as to whether the "good" son ever repents of his jealosy and embraces his brother. When we wear virtue as a badge, we fall into the trap of self-justification that Paul warns us against and become impervious to compassion, forgiveness, and love.



Connection: Dream interpretation in Gestalt psychology begins with the premise that every person, object, and action within the dream represents a part of ourselves. Perhaps we can take this same interpretive principle and use it to look at Jesus' parables. We are the father, the producal son, the good son, even the pigs! We are both the one who is driven to repentance and the one who hardens his heart to compassion and love. And yes, we are also the one who, with open arms, forgives the son who has rejected everything we stand for. Today look at how you live out each of these characters., and take all of these "characters" to the cross where we see the one who is able to embrace and accept all of who we are, without qualification or condition.



Prayer: For give us out sins as well as our idolization of our good deeds. Whether we do good or evil, save us, good Lord, from ourselves.