Come home.. to your loving Father
At various times in our lives, we have been all of these characters. We may have been the rebellious son that seeks to find joy and comfort in the allurements of the world. The fascination with life in the big city and its promise of anonymity. Free from the chains of being watched and known by everyone in the small town we grew up in. Finally able to discover all of life’s pleasures without restraint. Having money to spend, no responsibilities except to ourself, no cares in the world, looking for an adventure.
We may have been the brother who is left behind, hard hearted, unforgiving and unwilling to rejoice in his brother’s return. We may be feeling self-righteous, and prideful in being obedient to the father, unaware of our own sin, or need of repentance or care for the lost. We may outwardly claim obedience, but not share in the father’s love.
The long suffering, patient and loving father that may be wondering where he went wrong in raising his child. Why did he not want to stay here? Was I at fault in how raised him? Did I show favoritism to him and not discipline him properly? Hoping that someday he we will return, but fearing that he is lost forever. The agony of not knowing if he is alive or dead. After long periods of not hearing from him, he may have assumed that his son was dead, and would never know what has happened to him. Having finally coming to terms with the fact that he is gone forever, never to return, and possibly dead, his suffering must have been acute and debilitating at times.
His other son must have seen the sadness in his father and felt the suffering caused by his brothers’s absence. He may have been resentful at the love his father felt for his brother. Which son is the one who is really lost?
Knowing how he had lived his life, he could not understand how he could have been welcomed back by his father. He was shocked that there was a celebration, and even more had been given to him after he had squandered everything. Surely, he would have expected his father to have cast him out and sent him away after having treated him this way. To offer him a gold ring, fine clothes, new sandals and fine food was totally beyond his ability to understand this.
His brother was not given a chance to apologize, beg or grovel before he was shown love by his father. Surely there would have been a severe scolding and punishment to be delivered to him. He should have been chastised for his behavior. His family name and reputation would have been damaged by his actions and this would have been enough reason where he would have been considered dead to him.
But, our Father in heaven, like the father in the story, did not want any of this. ‘While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.’
Wait! What? The father did not turn away from him? He did not drive him off his property? He did what?
He did not hesitate. He RAN to meet him. He did not make him crawl. He embraced him. We can imagine what he looked like. What he smelled like. He was tending pigs! Imagine the shame for a Jew to take care of pigs in those days. There were strict laws against eating pork and any meat from unclean animals with cloven hoofs. Clearly, his son was not a practicing his faith that he learned from his father. He was truly dead to him. Note that as soon as his son expresses his sorrow, the father responds beyond his expectations. Instead of being treated as a hired servant, he is treated as royalty. His father did not say ‘ get him some clothes, and get cleaned up, before I’ll talk to you.’ No, he gave him the finest robe, a precious gold ring, and sandals for his feet. The gold ring is a symbol of authority, as well as power. The father giving a ring to his son could also mean that the father is giving the son the authority to act in his name! Imagine, instead of being treated as a SLAVE, he is restored to full standing as a substitute for his father. WOW! talk about love. This is the same love that the father has for us.
No matter what you’ve done in your life. No matter what bad decision you’ve made, your past performance does not put a limit on what God can do for you if you return to him. He can take your past failures and mistakes and use your weaknesses to complete the mission he has created you to accomplish.
Like our heavenly father, he knew what his son had done. He knows what have done. You may be feeling like you are defeated in life because of the situation at work, your marriage, your finances, your family or your health. You may be dealing with a long addiction or feeling that you’ve had a great chance in life but have blown it. God is bigger than any of your problems and He is ready to catapult you to the next level and make up for lost time, when you return to him and ask forgiveness.
He knows our weaknesses. More importantly, ‘God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.’ Let us return to Him as the prodigal son did. That’s what this Lent season is all about. Why not turn back to Him? Reconciliation is every Saturday at 4 PM. The parish penance service is Tuesday March 15 at 7:30pm. You’ll be amazed at the healing power of this sacrament.
