Are you a baptized Catholic who is considering returning to the faith? If you are reading this "do not be afraid." Many Catholics have fallen away for many various reasons. Despite what we have done or have failed to do in this life, God still loves us and calls us to follow Him. Remember the story of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke:
11 And [Jesus] said, “There was a man who had two sons; 12 and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on 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, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’" 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry. 25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
LUKE 11: 11-32
REFLECTION:
Focusing on the the father and younger son in the story, the father symbolizes God the Father and the younger son symbolizes a child of God who has fallen away. The younger son is focused on material wealth and earthly things which lead him to lose everything. His father did not cut-off his son, the son did it of his own accord and he is spiritually dying. Soon he recognizes that those serving the Father have life. So what does he need to do? He returns to the father and confesses his sin. This is what we need to do in our life when we fall away. Because like the father in the story, God the Father doesn't hold grudges but lovingly embraces us when we return to him. When Jesus died on the cross he did it with love, with his arms open and ready to receive us. We might be like the prodigal son, or the apostles who abandoned Jesus, and at times doubt like Thomas, or deny the Lord before others as Peter did, we may even have difficulty with faith and belief? Just remember that Jesus is present to welcome us back to the Father with open arms when we call upon Him.
If the Lord is nudging your heart to return to the Church, I'm happy to chat on the phone or sit down and answer your questions over coffee. Do not be afraid to follow the Lord!
Brandon Allen Director of Faith Formation & Discipleship Saint Joseph, Colorado Springs