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Readings
First Reading: Joshua 5:9A, 10-12
Psalm: Psalm 34: 2-7
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
In today’s Gospel, Luke 15:1-3 and verses 11-32, we hear that all-familiar story about the Prodigal Son. In this story, the younger son wants his share of the estate now, so he asks his father to give it to him. His father agrees and the son leaves for another country and lives an indulgent life. He’s the life of the party – until the money runs out. Of course, when it rains, it pours, so the money doesn’t just run out. No! A famine strikes. Now this poor boy has no money and no food and so he goes to work on a farm. He realizes that even the pigs live better than him, so he decides to go home. His father’s servants are treated better than this, so he hopes to live and work on this father’s place. But when his father sees him in the distance, what does he do? He runs into the field and gives him a deep bearhug! And he orders the servants to take care of son and prepare a huge party in his honor.
Now, when the older brother hears what is going on, he is ticked off! Here he’s been, the whole time, doing what he’s supposed to, working his butt off and never once has his father let him have a party! But his brother squanders his share of the wealth and he’s treated like a hero. And the father says, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
This is one of my favorite stories. That image of the father running into the field to meet his son who has returned home is a powerful image. Really, it’s a wonderful story that reminds us, as Bishop Robert Barron says, that the Bible is not the story of our quest for God. It’s about God’s passionate, relentless quest for us.
But there’s another dimension to this story though that I learned from Fr. Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk, that I think we need to pay attention to. Why is it that we become so angry when we see someone do something they shouldn’t do? Maybe it’s because we see a little bit of ourselves – or at least the something we might have done – in the person who did something wrong.
This story about these two brothers and the father is about us. It’s about both sides of our ego. One side wants to run after pleasure – think the mid-life crisis complete with new model car and partner. The other side takes the moral high ground and feels justified in condemnation.
Isn’t it also interesting how both brothers misunderstand the father’s reaction? The younger son expects his father to be angry and indignant and he’s hoping that he’ll be allowed to work as one of the slaves. The older brother is shocked that his father is so happy and welcoming.
In the symbolism of the father’s joy, a lack of self-importance, and the exuberance of his love we see our true self – our true nature which underpins all moral reasoning. Without knowledge of the essential truth of the unconditional nature of love, the ego will prevail. So how do we keep both sides of our ego in check? We pray. We experience the community of His church. Each time we pray, we are like the prodigal returning home to be embraced.
So, don’t condemn the wrongdoer once he or she has begun to change. We need to encourage rehabilitation by affirmation, forgiveness, and acceptance. Just as the father in the Gospel celebrates the return, we need to celebrate when those who do wrong in our lives come back. We need to do unto others as we would have them do us. Jesus tells us that just as he loves us, we need to love one another.
Homework! Lent is a time of simplification and strengthening our discipline where it is weak. After being nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and, in the Eucharist, please meditate on these two questions:
- Consider each of the three characters in the Gospel: the father, the Prodigal Son and the indignant son. Which one would you rather be?
- Considering how you answered the first question, how do you treat other people? Do you respond more like the Prodigal Son, the indignant son or the father?
I think by doing our homework we might identify areas in our life where we need to grow in faith, hope and love. Do you got it? Are you going to do it? Well good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!
Here’s a great video song from Jason Michael Carroll that captures the spirit of today’s Gospel: