A Lavish God
Today's Mass Readings
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) 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, 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. 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 human sinfulness. 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.
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 an apology. Let us make an effort today 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.
– Timothy Gabrielli