Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today’s Liturgy of the Word brings us the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It is also known as the Parable of the Merciful Father, or the Parable of the Lost Sons. For truly, both sons were lost, and the merciful father needed to reach out to both of them with compassion, forgiveness, and love.
We may see ourselves in the younger son who wanted to go his own way with no regard for his father’s wishes and pain. It was only when the going was tough that he remembered the servants at his father’s house. That memory really shook him, and he acknowledged his grave mistake. He was remorseful, and resolved to return to the father, begging him to accepted him as a servant. He did not believe his father would reinstate him as his son.
Yes, his father did reinstate him. Not grudgingly, but with great joy. He embraced him, and got the servants to clothe him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, and kill the fattened calf. He knew his son was suffering, and his love could only be expressed by his heartfelt forgiveness and hospitality. At no point did he mention his own pain.
The older son was a dutiful son and had remained loyal to the father all along. He was angered by his brother’s behaviour, and he could not bring himself to forgive him, let alone celebrate his return. How could his father show such unconditional love when he did not feel he was the recipient of his such love. Here again, the father reached out to him in a loving manner and invited him to love his brother and rejoice at his return from death to life.
Lent is a time to reflect and rejoice in the unconditional love of the Father. It is also an opportunity to open our hearts to those who make mistakes, and who may be responsible for their own misfortune.
This Friday we will be celebrating Mercy Night. As we continue to journey through Lent, we are invited to come to our compassionate Father and receive his forgiveness, and to extend our love and forgiveness towards others.
God bless you
Fr Silvio
