“A man had two sons…”
This weekend's Gospel story is one of the more famous of Jesus' parables: the Prodigal Son. The parable is one about the mercy of God, but contains two parts. The first, and most familiar, part involves a son who decides to take his inheritance, before his father is even dead, and leaves his family behind. He spends his money recklessly and eventually bankrupts himself. After working humiliating jobs and being miserable, the son suddenly comes to his senses and decides to return home and hope that his father may have some level of mercy upon him.
And so the story goes, "While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him." The implication is that the father was waiting and even looking for his son to some day return; and now, when it is happening, the father is so happy to have him home that he gives him gifts and throws a feast for him, saying "let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found." These words, which make up a portion of the popular hymn Amazing Grace, show us the mercy of the Father, who always wishes and hopes for the return of his wayward children and is always ready to greet them with love when they do return.
However, the second part of the story is just as important. For there was another son, the older of the two, who had always been faithful to the father. When he hears of his brother's return, instead of feeling joy and relief, he is filled with jealousy and anger, even so far as refusing to participate in the festivities. The father comes to him and says, "My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." The father says this because, quite literally, all that he has will eventually belong to this son; the younger son already took and squandered his portion. But the larger lesson here is that, often, those who do not wander from the faith or turn from God are tempted to look down in judgement upon those who do and to not trust or welcome them back if they return. However, Jesus tells us over and over again of the love and mercy of the father toward those who return; he tells us that there is more rejoicing over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine who are righteous. (Luke 15:7)
While this may seem unfair, Jesus also calls us to love like God loves. The Kingdom is not about counting the costs, it is not about comparing levels of righteousness, and it definitely isn't about trying to "be better" than anyone else. The Kingdom is about all of us coming together as the Body of Christ and sharing in the joy of God's grace and love. Whenever someone comes to that, or comes back to it, it must always be a time for rejoicing! For, whether we want to admit it or not, in one way or another we all have been dead and have come to life again; we all have been lost and have been found.
So, this week, let us seek to be people of joy and hope, who seek to welcome everyone who walks through the doors of our church. For, whether they are new to us or returning to us, they are beloved children of God and there is great rejoicing in heaven at their presence among us. Let's make sure there is great rejoicing on earth too.
Want to prepare your heart and mind for Sunday's Mass? Click here to find the readings.