God of mercy, you are always ready to forgive...

It's been much too long since I've featured the work of Canadian sculptor, Timothy Schmalz, whose Prodigal Son you find above.

As I wrote in an earlier post, the First Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for Reconciliation is my favorite canon. This weekend just past, after the proclamation of and preaching on the story of the prodigal son, I found this prayer particularly poignant, especially its preface:

Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation - I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere
to give you thanks and praise.

You never cease to call us to a new and more abundant life.
God of love and mercy, you are always ready to forgive;
we are sinners, and you invite us to trust in your mercy.

Time and time again we broke your covenant,
but you did not abandon us.
Instead, through your Son, Jesus our Lord,
you bound yourself even more closely to the human family
by a bond that can never be broken.

Now is the time for your people to turn back to you
and to be renewed in Christ your Son,
a time of grace and reconciliation.

You invite us to serve the family of humankind
by opening our hearts to the fullness of your Holy Spirit.

In wonder and gratitude, we join our voices
with the choirs of heaven to proclaim the power of your love
and to sing of our salvation in Christ:

Holy, holy, holy Lord…

You can find the complete text of this prayer here.



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