SPIRITUAL PRESENCE
24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 12, 2010

What makes us untouchable to God is not our sinfulness but the pretensions with which we hide our sins. The truth is that we all fall short of the glory of God; we all are sinners. The self-righteous Pharisees denied this truth. In order to show them how everyone is in need of God’s mercy, Jesus told them three parables: parable of the lost sheep, lost coin and the lost son. These parables sum up the entire Christian message. They are:-

• All are in need of God’s mercy
• God is eager to seek and find the lost ones
• God’s love is personal and unconditional
• God receives repentant sinners with joy
• God’s joy consist in our conversion

Everybody needs conversion. The parable of the prodigal son amply explains this fact. There is no question about the sinfulness of the younger son. He separated himself from his father, physically and spiritually. It was a complete departure. The elder son thought that he was perfectly holy as he was staying with his father. He was physically present. His problem was that he was not spiritually present. Even though he was physically near to his father, he failed to develop the heart and mind of his Father. Physical presence does not necessarily bring spiritual proximity. He was also in need of conversion.

Physical proximity is not enough. Spiritual proximity is the key. As long as our hearts are away from God, we are in need of conversion.