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In the 2016 Order of Prayer handbook known as the Ordo, we read this simple commentary on the parable of the prodigal son: The forgiving father hopes that his love will be imitated. He mirrors God's unfailing mercy, pardon and grace.
The reference here is not about the relationship between the man and his younger son who has returned home repentant of his evil ways. In fact he fully expects that this prodigal will follow in his footsteps. After all, he welcomed this child back with open arms and restored him to full stature as an heir. So the boy should be more than eager to reciprocate such mercy, pardon and grace toward others.
No. The reflection above is geared toward the bond between the man and his older boy who refuses to celebrate the fact that his brother is even alive. On the contrary, this older, faithful son accuses his father of being unfair. He chooses to angrily pace up and down outside the house rather than join in the sing-a-long inside. We can understand his reaction. But is his anger really masking a more deep-seated hurt or perhaps even a legitimate fear? After years of labor and loyalty, his dad hasn't even thanked him with an afternoon barbecue for him and his friends, let alone financed a full-blown festival like the one for “this son of yours” who has squandered his inheritance on binge drinking and loose living.
Most of us identify with the older son who, let's face it, is not being treated justly. We might even speculate that he suspects his dear old dad is getting senile and being blindsided by this Broadway act. And for those of us who have younger siblings, there may even be that gnawing, jealous thought that the folks spoiled them rotten. Of course the real clincher is in the money. Not the shekels for the party, but a possible re-write of the father's last will and testament. Now that Romeo has returned and already wrapped dad, and a jeweled ring, around his little finger, will he receive a second, unwarranted share of the family farm when the father is on his deathbed? Again, such thoughts never trip off the tongue of the older son, but these, and perhaps even worse imaginings, may be seething behind the sarcasm aimed at the fatted calf, which his brother is dancing about, and the baby goat, which he himself never tasted. Maybe there is more bitterness lurking in the back of his mind that he is simply too respectful to place at the feet of his far too generous father.
The parable of the prodigal is the message of Lent, par excellence. We Christians are called to conversion, to change our bad behavior, to repent of our sins, and not to be afraid to turn back to God who, like a loving father, is waiting for us with outstretched arms and abundant mercy.
Christ suffered his passion and death and conquered the grave through his resurrection to pay a ransom for us. So, we belong to God now. The debt of our sins has been paid in full. God our father, like the dad of these two boys, wants all of us to welcome other sinners with similar compassion and to rejoice at their homecoming. God does not want us to pout or point fingers or drag out the scales of justice.
Can we do this? Can we cover our heads with the same wool that God allows to be pulled over his eyes and look the other way…the way of mercy?
For Holy Homework: At the end of this month we will celebrate God's merciful redemption of our sins through his son's suffering, death and resurrection. Let's take a few moments during the remaining weeks of Lent to meditate on how God's mercy toward us is mirrored in the parable of the prodigal son. For example, can we think of other unvoiced resentments that the older son might have had which made him question his younger brother's sincerity? Is the younger boy taking advantage of his dad, or perhaps more to the point, is he taking advantage of his older brother? Does God expect us to be merciful even if we know someone is taking advantage of us? Where do we draw the line between being merciful and being a sucker? If we do not want a line drawn when it comes to how much mercy God should show in treating us, then should there even be a line when it comes to how much mercy we should show in treating others? To what extent are we willing to imitate God's love? To what extent are we willing to mirror God's unfailing mercy, pardon and grace?
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