Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
Today’s gospel might initially wash over us as the story we’ve heard many, many times of the “Prodigal Son” who lavishly spends his inheritance on pleasures and is left tending the swine and desiring their food. He then returns to his father to beg for mercy.
But let us pause and reflect upon what it was like to hear this parable for the first time, like the Pharisees and scribes in the gospel (see Luke 15:2-3). Who really is “prodigal” (lavish or extravagant) person in this story? Hearing this parable for the first time, we would be shocked at the father’s response to his son’s return. We might expect a standoff of sorts after all the son had initially asked for his inheritance, in essence telling his father, “You’re dead to me” and squandered it on prostitutes. But instead we get an extravagant (prodigal) celebration of the highest order! Recall that this is Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and scribes, those who were regarded as most pious in their day, who criticize him for eating with tax collectors and sinners. By the end of the parable, they cannot help but see themselves in the character of the disgruntled son. Yet, the father even reaches out to him, assuring the eldest son of his love. We never get the eldest son’s response, perhaps because Jesus really thrusts that question upon the Pharisees and scribes, awaiting their response! Their heavy emphasis on the letter of the law often left them no room for mercy and forgiveness.
It is fitting that during this penitential season of Lent, we continue to reflect on our relationship with God. Today’s readings ask us to reflect on God’s mercy and forgiveness to those who humble themselves before Him. Notice that the son “was still a long way off” when the father sees him from a distance and runs out to meet him (Luke 15:20). The father embraced and kissed him even before the son asked for his forgiveness!! It is with this enthusiasm that God comes to meet us. He sees us approaching the confessional and is overjoyed at our coming.
Today’s gospel calls us to remember God’s overflowing love. When we are mired in the sinfulness of human life, all it takes is an initial turn back to God and God’s forgiveness flows with abundance. But sometimes it’s that very sinfulness that makes us think we cannot turn back to God, that we are unworthy. The Good News is that love in the form of forgiveness flows abundantly from God, as long as we can accept it.
The challenge here is for us to imitate God, for us to imitate the abundance of love and forgiveness that overflows and doesn’t even wait for a rehearsed apology. Let us make an effort today to thank God for not dealing with us according to our sins, but for being kind and merciful! (Ps 103:10, 8a). As we do that, let us ask for the grace to forgive like God forgives. Lastly, let us find a way to enact that forgiveness, even if in a small way, today.
– Tim Gabrielli