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The Prodigal Father's Amazing Story |
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by George Bersabe Lk. 15: 1-3, 11-32 
T oday's Gospel is a familiar story in the New Testament because it is so powerful in itself. The story has it all - a father who is eager to offer mercy, a squandering son who takes advantage of the father's mercy after he realized his mistakes, and a faithful and dutiful older brother who mistakes mercy for indulgence.
The story tells a lot about us. It reveals what we are to God, especially if we are like that younger son who squandered the wealth or the gift that God has given him. But, we are more like the older son in many ways. We do our duties to God with resentment and hardness in our hearts. And there are the servants who rejoiced with the prodigal son and the father because of the former's return.
But again, the focal point in the story is the father who patiently waited for the return of his son.
This story conveys God's prodigal mercy towards us. It invites us to become more and more like the Father who, Jesus describes, is a father who is full of mercy and compassion.
Yes, this is the amazing story of the Prodigal Father. I am not mistaken with the idea. God prodigally loves us. He welcomed us on our return to His fold. He lavishes more anyone who has the courage to go back and experience His selfless love.
This is now the kind of love He has for us. It is the abundance of God's loving kindness that leads us to repentance. We are prodigally forgiven and welcomed anew, so we must offer and share the same forgiveness and welcome with those who have hurt us, too.
The younger son learned that there is no shame in returning home. He had the courage to make that decision and not to cut himself off from his family even more.
But there is a lot more to learn from the older brother. Yes, he stayed at home and had served his father and became responsible for his father's business, but deep inside, there was resentment and anger. In some way, he was more selfish than the younger son because his selfishness was hidden.
If you have observed the reading, you will know that the story is not finished. We do not know if the older brother entered the celebration after his heart-to-heart talk with his father. We might conclude that he just walked away and never bothered to see and talk to his younger brother. Anyway, he thought his younger brother was more loved by his father.
You will be the one to conclude. Conclude it with the way you see yourself in front of God. It is your decision and conviction that He loves you more than ever that is being reflected here. He is waiting. He prodigally loves you. Prayer:
Father, we have sinned, let us find the way back. Remember not our sin. Just let us here to stay. We are not worthy to be called Your children. Touch our lives with Your healing grace again. Amen. |
