One of
the challenges that Jesus presents in his parables is a difficulty to put
ourselves in the story. Which character are we? Which would we want to be?
The
Prodigal Son is no different: two sons, one who heads off to spend his money
for immediate gratification, who returns home humbled and begging; the other
remains at home, working hard with expectation to inherit his fair share
uncontested, yet sullen when his prodigal brother returns home.
Neither
is an immediately evident choice: both have positive and negative
characteristics. Yet: so do we.
Also:
WHy dichotomy? Natural inclination to see that if I'm bad, you're good; but if
you're good, why does that have to make me bad?
Answer:
it doesn;t. As we see in the father in this parable. He offers the good news - the holy news - as he demonstrates his
commitment to both his sons. After the controversy, about what is owed and
owing, deserved and expected, it's a fairly challenging story.
The
father 'crosses the threshold' twice - once to greet the returning humbled
child, and to celebrate his return.
But
also: equally important - to go after and bring back the 'good' son, who had
never left - until he did.
The
father has love for both his sons. He has compassion for them both, empathy for
them both. He wishes them both the best in life, and knows they will grow and
mature in different ways, from different experiences, and at different times.
We too
grow and mature at different paces: physically, mentally, emotionally, and
spiritually.
In our
journey we have all been the child of God that has focused more on temporal
happiness than eternal joys; we have also at times been the child to devote
ourselves to faithful sustained service.
We have
been the child that has come back to God, penitent, remorseful, humbled - maybe
feeling we don't deserve to be welcomed back, but wanting to be at the
periphery - and yet are greeted with a divine celebration for renewed
relationship. And sometimes we are the ones who cannot conceive that God's
grace should extend to the returning 'other', and we ourselves become arrogant
and start to walk away... only to be reminded that we are not beyond the reach
or interest of our Holy Father.
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