Sunday, March 27 : Saint John Cassian

If a person is tending to perfection, then he will mount from that first degree of fear – which we have properly designated as servile and about which it is said: When you have properly done everything (…) to the higher level of hope, progressing by a degree. Still, the person looks forward to the payment of a reward, to the disposition of a son who trusts in the generosity of his father’s indulgence and who has no doubt that everything which belongs to his father is his. To this even the prodigal who had abandoned even the name of son along with his father’s property, did not dare to aspire when he said: “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” For after he was denied taking his fill of the husks of the swine – that is, of the filthy food of vice – he reflected upon himself and was struck with compunction by a salutary fear, and he began to loathe the uncleanness of the swine and to dread the pains od dire hunger. Having become like a slave, he thought now of a wage and desired the status of a hireling, saying: “How many of my father’s hirelings have an abundance of bread, and here am I perishing of hunger! I will return, therefore, to my father and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your servants.” But his father, hurrying to meet him, accepted these words of humble repentance with a love greater than that with which they had been spoken. Not content to grant him less, he passed over the other two degrees without delay and restored him to his former dignity of sonship. Hence, we also, mounting by the indissoluble grace of love, who believe that everything which belongs to their father is theirs, must strive to be worthy of receiving the image and likeness of the heavenly Father and of being able to proclaim the image and likeness of the heavenly Father and of being able to proclaim in imitation of the true Son: “All that the Father has is mine.” (Jn 16:15)
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team