THE PRODIGAL SON AND THE LOVING FATHER
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is the best known in the Bible. With this parable, our Church continues the theme of sincere repentance, forgiveness and restoration, as she prepares us to enter the Great Lent Period. All of us can identify with some of the themes of this parable in our life.
In today’s parable the younger son was the real rebel. He considered his loving family as a prison. Although he had everything he needed, and the love of his father, he wanted to be independent, to do whatever it pleased him, without the loving restrictions of his father. He demanded his share of the family property; he turned it into cash and, lauded, he left for a far away country, where no one knew him. While he squandered his money in “loose living,” he had many “free loader” friends. But as soon as he ran out of money, everybody deserted him. He was left alone, lonely and starving. How many times we have seen this picture in our life!
The hungry prodigal applied for a job and he was given the lowest job in society—to take care pigs. He was so hungry that he was eating the husks which the pigs ate. In his want and miserable state he remembered his home: What he had, before he left his paternal home in rebellion. Even the servants ate better and were treated kindly in his father’s home.
Reality taught him soberness and he rediscovered his true self. He repented for his sinful actions and bad behavior. He made the decision to return to his father and ask his forgiveness. He realized that he was no longer worthy to be called his son, after what he had done to him. He will only ask his father to make him one of his servants; just to live and work in his house as a servant, like the other servants. At least he’ll have enough food to eat and a place to stay.
Let us now look at the father of the prodigal son. He was waiting patiently for his prodigal son to come to his senses and return. When the father saw his son coming, he ran to meet him, while he was still far away. He tenderly embraced him, kissing him repeatedly. The repented son began to apologize to his father on his knees. But the father raised him up and told his servants to dress him with the best robe; to put shoes on his bare feet and to wear a gold ring on his finger —the sign of his sonship— and to prepare a banquet to celebrate the return of his son. For “my son was lost and he is now found; he was dead in sin, and he is now alive,” in repentance.
This Gospel parable presents the rebellion, repentance and return of the prodigal son. But the heart of the parable is the “love of the Father.” The return of the son had in it the taint of utilitarianism. The prodigal repented in his suffering and he returned to survive. His positive side was his repentance in humility and his decision to change and do the will of the father. But the father’s love is pure and divine. He loved His son always: when he was with him; when he rebelled; when he returned.
The parents are always ready to welcome with love their erring sons and daughters who want to come home. The parents have grown themselves through the years to acquire the unselfish love of God. They love their children with an unselfish love and they want them to mature and come home; to return to God, Who is the Loving Father of the Parable.
With love, Fr. John.
