to: all of my friends
from: Father Bill Muench
This is Rembrandt’s painting of the Prodigal Son that hangs in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg
Lent is over half way done – have you begun your Lent – time to do something for Lent
This is “Laetare” Sunday – “Rejoice” – we are getting closer to Easter – so we can begin to rejoice. Joy permeates all of this Sunday’s Scripture. Joshua rejoices in the celebration as Israel arrives in the Promised Land and celebrates the Passover. St. Paul rejoices in God’s reconciling us and saving us through Jesus. And the Gospel presents to us the familiar Parable of the Prodigal Son – or – also can be described as the Parable of the Forgiving Father.
A parable is a story – a story that Jesus uses to teach us something about God. In this story, the biggest discovery the younger son makes is that he is loved in his sins. His Father never stopped loving him. Each one of us is reminded by the parable that God loves us – even in our sins. God’s forgiveness is not a cold, half hearted forgiveness – but a warm and generous one. God’s doesn’t just forgive us; he loves us and lets us know it.
The parable shows us that if, through weakness or even wickedness we do sin, we can come back. We can make a fresh start. And just as in the parable, God the Father comes out to welcome us. The Prodigal Son comes walking up the road, the Father rushes out to welcome him and celebrate his return – despite the son’s thoughtfulness. Jesus teaches us often that God the Father is always searching for us, reaching out to us in love – ready to welcome us back in forgiveness.
I believe this is a particularly important message for our young people – who too often decide to get away from the Lord – from Church – may they never forget that God never forgets them – and is constantly ready to welcome them back – whether their sins are small or great. This is a story and a lesson that must be repeated often.
And then there is the older brother – who is angry and annoyed – at all this celebration on the return of his brother – despite his many sins. Again, the Father comes to seek reconciliation. Many of us may fin ourselves like the older brother – annoyed – angry – that the Church is not more difficult with sinners – or maybe with particular individuals. May these older brothers hear the message of God the Father – the same as in the parable – “everything I have is yours. But we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” It should be a moment of rejoicing – may be as a Church always rejoice at the reconciliation of a sinner.
Somewhere I read this – Jesus does not end the parable – we don’t know what happened – even in the mind of the story teller – so we can come up with our own fitting ending to the parable – suppose the Father does convince the older son – so that this son realizes his own selfishness and recognizes how important the younger son’s return is to his Father – so he enters the house with his father and welcomes his brother back home and joins the celebration.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – help me to recognize your great love and forgiveness – all too often I know I am the Prodigal – stumbling back in sorrow for failing to resist sin – and you have welcomed me with you spacious forgiving love – may I never forget your great love for me, O Lord. This is my prayer. Amen.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.
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