Prodigal Responsory
You’d never end the story by turning us away,
so why do we live as if we could do something that will stop you loving us?
You’d never end the story giving up w aiting for us,
so why do we live in fear of wearing out your patience?
You’d never end the story with a litany of our sins,
so why do we live as though you see us only with eyes of judgement?
You’d never end the story giving us one last warning,
so why do we live in fear that your goodwill will run out?
You’d never end the story not recognising us,
so why do we live thinking you don’t know the shape of our souls?
You’d never end the story with outpourings of anger,
so why do we live in fear of incurring your wrath?
You’d never end the story making us repay all we’ve taken,
so why do we live as though we owe you for loving us?
You’d never end the story by taking us back as servants,
so why do we live as though there are limits on your grace?
You’d never end the story slamming a door in our face,
so why do we live in fear of your rejection?
You’d never end the story with anything but love,
so why do we live as though our story might end with anything but love?
With thanks to Mother Anna and Holy Ground, for use after the telling of the Lost Son.
I tried to leave a comment before, pointing out that this is, except for one sentence, the work of Cheryl Lawrie and was published on her blog, Hold This Space, in 2007, asking only that if it appears in printed form that the source be acknowledged. I included the url in my last comment but won’t this time, in case that sends my comment to your spam filter.
I was not aware of the source of this, and am happy to see your comments as acknowledgement. I know Cheryl’s work, and have made materials from her work before: it’s all for Jesus and (as can be seen elsewhere) I claim no copyright or assertion on anything I produce, because it’s all about Gospel.