THE PRODIGAL SON

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Today's Gospel reading brings us to a well-known parable; the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus gives this parable in the context where religious leaders were expressing their indignation over the manner in which He associated with sinners. Jesus clearly did not agree with them. Now to justify his outreach to Gentiles and sinners and to illustrate his insistence that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who do not need to repent, He told them three parables: the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and then the parable of the lost son.

Our story begins with the younger son of the family who asks for his share of the inheritance then goes abroad to live a life of fun. After spending all his properties and experiencing real life of degradation, he came to his senses and decided to go back home. He said: “I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him: Father I have sinned against haven and against you.” I was a bit curious about how this young man decided to go back home and discovered that even in his decision to go back home he still missed something about his father. Look at his thought. He said: “How many of my Father’s workers have more than enough food, but here am I, dying from hunger.” The point he missed is his father’s love. He did not think of his father’s love. He did not see his father welcoming him just like that. He thought of being one of the workers.

Most of us are like this son. Most of us don’t understand God’s love. We often miss God’s love and hide ourselves behind the door saying: It is finished, there is nothing I can do, I messed up. I believe the central purpose of this parable is not only the return of the younger son but also and mostly the amazing nature of the father’s love. Jesus told this story to help us understand the nature of God’s love; a love that forgives without condition, a love that restores without counting the cost, a generous love that holds nothing back.

This story challenges us also to see that there is no time when we can be more Christian in life than in those moments when we are truly generous, when we forgive unconditionally, and when we do all in our power to be instruments of peace and reconciliation.