The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a favorite to many. Much of our focus is on the brothers and their different approaches to their relationship with their father. What struck me this time was the fact that the father goes out to meet both of the brothers for very different reasons.
The father running to the younger son feels quite dramatic. The son who literally took the money and ran (away), who has been gone and out of touch for an extended period of time, returns empty-handed, ready to beg for mercy and forgiveness.
If you’ve ever been excited to see a family member or friend after an extended time away and ran towards them for a hug, you know the energy that transfers into a strong hug. Now imagine this happening to you when you expect to be met with resistance and unforgiveness.
The younger son, now humbled by his worldly experience, doesn’t feel worthy of the hug. He comes bearing apologies and shame, but the father won’t let him try to belittle himself anymore. The father closes the door on the past by letting his son know: the old life is forgotten; welcome home where you belong. The father goes on to call for a celebration.
God the Father runs to the sinner who leaves their old life behind and walks toward home, toward the Church. Sometimes those with major conversion experiences can seem like they advance so much more quickly than those of us who have remained close to home, but the truth is in God’s mercy. He doesn’t want doubt to overcome the sinner so He runs out to meet him and walk with him the remainder of the way home, speaking to him of his identity as his son.
The older son has an adverse reaction to this welcome. He stays outside, refusing to go into the celebration, feeling that he has been slighted. The father realizes his older son is missing and comes out to search for him. When he finds him he is met with questions and frustration so he also speaks into the older son’s identity as son: “everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31) He reminds him All that matters is that both are now with him. For the father there is no measuring between one son and another. He explains to the older son that the celebration is not about the volume of work produced (or not), but instead is about the conversion of heart – that his brother is no longer dead, but alive.
God wants nothing more than all of us to live life with Him. Therefore He comes out to meet us when we have sinned and are seeking mercy. He meets us in our stubbornness and indignation and reminds us of who He has called us to be: brothers and sisters in Christ – not in competition with one another, but instead in companionship with one another.
Daily Reading
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Reading I Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;…
Saint of the Day
Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719) was a priest, educational reformer, and founder of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He is a the patron saint of teachers. He is considered the founder of the first Catholic schools.
The post Saint John Baptist de La Salle appeared first on uCatholic.