Parable Of The Prodigal Father
2022년 3월 27일Parable Of The Prodigal Father
< Fourth Sunday of Lent >
Today’s gospel contains what is commonly known as the parable of the Prodigal Son. People erroneously refer to an adult child who has been away a long time and suddenly returns home as the “prodigal”, meaning someone who wanders around but comes to his senses and goes home. But in actuality, prodigal means extravagantly wasteful. In this regard, the parable is more about the father than the son. Yes, the son wasted his father’s inheritance on loose living, but the real scandal was the father, not only gave his young son his share of the father’s wealth, but more scandalously welcomed back his errant son with open arms.
Of course the older son is angry. After all, he “slaved” for his father all the while his younger brother gambled, drank wine, and hired prostitutes. “Surely,” the older son thought, “Father will disown my sinful brother and give me everything I want!” The elder son failed to appreciate how extravagantly the father loved BOTH sons. I bet most of us identify with the elder son. We think if we attend every Mass, fast on Ash Wednesday, abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent, say countless rosaries, make the stations of the cross and drink holy water every day, we can earn God’s love, just as surely as God will punish all those who don’t come to Mass and worse—live sinful lives. But that isn’t the good new. The good news is you cannot earn God’s love, nor can we lose it. God loves us extravagantly. He does not, he CANNOT, love us less. He waits and watches the horizon every day for signs we are ready to go home and be with him. Never fear returning to God’s loving embrace.