The Parable of the Lost Son...a.k.a. The Prodigal Son

The Lenten Mission is being given by an energetic priest from Flagstaff, Fr. Pat Mowrer.  He is taking 3 sessions on 3 different days to go over the parable of the Prodigal Son.  The fact that there is so much to say about one short parable in Chapter 15 of Luke had me realizing anew just how densely rich the scriptures are.  There is not a word in them that isn't rife with meaning.  Reading a passage slowly and aloud often helps me to  go deeper into its meaning.  At times, something I have read or heard dozens of times will take on a whole new dimension.

The Word is ALIVE.

I realized this fact again tonight as I marveled over this story that I thought I knew well.  When the younger son says to his father 'give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' he really meant, 'I wish you were dead so that I could have your things.'  How appalling is this young man's statement!  By requesting his inheritance, he is rejecting all the non-tangibles that only his father and his family can give him.  Namely, he is rejecting unconditional and eternal LOVE.

God who is Our Father and the father in the story gives his ungrateful son his property and lovingly lets him go.  Like so many of us, the young man sets out to a 'distant country where he squandered his inheritance'.  This could very well be my story years ago, when I rejected the Lord's love by turning away from Him and looking only at what I wanted, what I thought, what I needed.  It was all about me, me, me-the most important person in my life.  The words 'distant country' resonated greatly with me.  How far did I go before I realized that I needed God in my life?  I was very, very distant, living in sin.  So far in fact, that I couldn't hear God's voice.  He was drowned out by the voices of the media, the woman's movement, friends and society at large.

The following words weren't emphasized in tonight's session, but are so very important, 'When he had freely spent everything...'

The younger son had FREELY spent everything.  He had made each poor decision.  He had chosen his lifestyle and when the bad times came, all his good-time companions fled, leaving him alone with his remorse.  It is said that God doesn't condemn anyone to Hell, but we condemn ourselves by freely choosing Hell over God.

We need to pray for those we love, that they might have that eternal 'AHA' moment before it is too late to turn back to God.  The young man in the parable was far away and cut off from his family, his old life,  even his own dignity, and then he remembers the servants in his father's home who were treated well.

I am looking forward to tomorrow as the story continues with the second son.

Ahhhh....the second son.  He stays home, obeys his fathers rules and he works hard.    But what are his motives?  As the older son does he feel that everything will eventually be his, so why not work it?  His brother is out of the picture.  As far as he is concerned, good riddance.  All he needs to do, is wait for his father to die and everything comes to him.  His lack of true love for his family is obvious by his cold response to his brother's return and his father's obvious joy.  Instead of welcoming his lost brother and enjoying his father's happiness, he stands outside in the cold.  He doesn't acknowledge his brother as his brother, but only as his father's son.  He remains cold and unmoving despite his father's pleading.

My husband and I agree that we have sometimes been like the older son.  We too have felt superior or smug and unforgiving of others.  We too have refused to share joy in order to stand on our little bit of righteous indignation.  We too have turned away others entreaties due to pride or stubbornness.

The thing to ponder now is; which brother is the greater sinner?

The wrap-up of the retreat is tomorrow.  I am looking forward to the story from the father's perspective.

Fr. Pat pointed out today that God is always looking for us to come home.  The father in the story spots his younger son when he was still a distance away, because he was looking for him.  He never gave up hope that his son would someday return.  When he spots his son, he RUNS to him to embrace him and kiss him.  This, to the son who scorned his love and only valued his 'things'.  The son is overwhelmed by this open welcome.  He must of thought as I do nearly every mass, 'how can this be?  What kind of love is this that forgives so freely?'

Total love.  Overwhelming love.  Unconditional love. Welcoming love.  Healing love.

How amazing is God!  He is always looking for us.  He never stops hoping that we will come home to him.  He meets us more than half way by running to us when he sees that we are on the journey back to him.  I say again, what kind of love is this?

My response now is to be open to that love.  I don't deserve it, I can't earn it, but I want it so much, even if a kernel within me says that I'm not worthy, God thinks that I am.

As I write this, I imagine pulling my self onto God's vast lap and laying my head on his chest where I can hear his heart beating.  I imagine his strong embrace.  I am loved.

Imagine that.

Thank you Lord,
for loving me first,
so that I can love others.