I was still a bit rattled on my way to church this morning. I was burdened by the feeling of shame that came from two dreams in which I did something untoward. Even though those were just what happened in dreams, the fact that dreams are a manifestation of our subconscious mind means that they reflect what hidden intents and desires we have.
As I carried this feeling to the church, the central theme of the readings today, that of reconciliation, conveyed a special meaning. For 'shame' is one of the things that our reconciliation with God should help banish, along with 'reproach' (Joshua 5), 'fears' (Psalm 23), 'trespasses' (2 Corinthians 5), 'dissipation' and 'sin' (Luke 15). God, our Father in Heaven, is ever so kind that he will forgive us and embrace us as the father in the parable of the prodigal son told by Jesus in the Gospel today. All it takes is for us to repent and pray for forgiveness.
As Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 5, "...on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him."
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