The Prodigal Son
One
The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most beautiful and hopeful stories Jesus offers. In it, He teaches us so many things, not the least of which is the allurement and detrimental effects of sin, the bounteous Mercy of the father, and the resentment the son who stayed. Listen again to this parable, and let’s allow the Lord to speak to us anew:
“And Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on[b] the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.
Two
“Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’” (Lk 15: 11-32).
Three
Our own sinfulness makes us feel unworthy and forsaken. We then try to compensate by justifying ourselves and/or blaming others. Satan prowls around like a lion, and when he sees his vices take root in our souls, he accuses us, which is what his name means, and makes us feel even more ashamed and decrepit. Unfortunately, he disguises this harsh and judging voice to make us think it is God’s! And so we flee, like the bad son, and for some, with the intent never to return. That’s why this parable is so crucial; it shatters our false image of God with a better image of hopeful mercy. Please, child, fear not. Return! A merciful and loving Father waits to welcome you!
Four
The prodigal son wishes his father were dead so he could take his inheritance and squander it on fleeing pleasures and instant gratification. We must ask ourselves, ‘why do I feel so inclined to sensual and instant gratification when I know that these undermine my glory with my Father? As mysterious as the attraction is, it is a fact. If we allow God’s mercy to penetrate our hearts, however, never giving up on our quest to grow closer to Him, He will change those fallen desires to healthy ones.
Five
The father’s response to his prodigal son seems rather scandalous. His generous response could enable his son’s profligate ways. Afterall, we’re not told the end of the story for either son. Perhaps it’s for us to figure out with our own lives. Jesus is clearly not worried, though, about making God an enabler to moral decadence. Rather does He propose a radical solution: displaying the vulnerability of our Father’s merciful heart, will help us see that sin is not just breaking rules, but breaking hearts. Receiving Mercy makes us merciful. Today, let us examine our lives and identify the sins we tend to commit over and over, only this time, let us view them from the perspective of our Father’s vulnerable heart, and ask Him to change our hearts likewise.