Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 / Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
It is said that when you feel pain, you are alive.
And when you feel other people’s pain, you are a human being (Leo Tolstoy)
To be able to feel pain is truly a profound experience.
Whether it is human beings or animals, the feeling of pain is a sign that help is needed from others.
In the gospel, the tax collectors and sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what He had to say.
They wanted to hear Jesus and His words of comfort and consolation for the pains that they feel in life because of their sins and from being rejected.
But the Pharisees and the scribes were rather upset and irritated that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them.
Jesus responded to that by telling them the parable which is known to us as the parable of the prodigal son.
It is a parable that has many human emotions and it lets the listener decide how to feel those emotions.
We will certainly have some feelings when we listen and reflect on that parable.
May we feel the voice of God in that parable and learn how to feel like Jesus.
Jesus felt our pain and He healed our pain by His suffering on the Cross.
May we also feel the pain of others and bring the healing love of Jesus to them.