In the parable of the Prodigal son, we find a young man who, driven by his own desires, demands his inheritance from his father. He takes this wealth and squanders it in a distant land, living a life of recklessness. It’s a tale of a son’s rebellion, a father’s heartache, and the transformative power of repentance.

He was eager to claim his inheritance, to break free from his father’s house, to live life on his own terms. He was driven by a desire for independence, for freedom, and adventure. In his pursuit of these things, he lost sight of the value of his father’s love, of the security of his home and the wisdom of his upbringing. He traded the lasting riches his father’s house provided for fleeting pleasures, and in the end, he found himself destitute, desperate, and alone….

As you leaf occasionally through your beloved copy of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), you may have noticed mention of “Ember Days.” These observances turn up on the liturgical calendar four times a year, and each consists of three days: the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after St. Lucy’s Day (December 14), Ash Wednesday, the day of Pentecost, and Holy Cross day (September 14). As you may have deduced, we are currently in the vicinity of the Ash Wednesday Ember Days….