Readings: Joshua 5:9, 10-12; 2Cor. 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
The Lost and Found Son
1. In the second reading, St. Paul writes: "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So, we are ambassadors for Christ." An ambassador is "An accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country." St. Paul again reminds us that "Our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there." (Phil. 3:20). We are representatives of our homeland on a mission to represent God as ambassadors. As we live and interact with our fellow pilgrims, we often wander away from the statutes and ordinances of our homeland. We must return to the right path. We do this through reconciliation. We will enjoy the goodness of the Lord (the Psalm) if we live a reconciled life. When we live a life of reconciliation and forgiveness, God removes the reproach and shame of our life, as he did with the children of Israel when they returned from Egypt (First Reading) and restored them to their lost dignity.
2. Today's Gospel celebrates reconciliation in the story of the merciful father's restoration of the prodigal's son's lost identity and destiny. The son may have squandered his inheritance but not his heritage. The father chose to offer him unconditional love and forgiveness. He was not interested in his sin but in his reunification. When the son came to his senses, he made a choice, changed his mind, and returned to his father. To come to our senses means acknowledging our faults, accepting our mistakes, and resolving to change. The father was waiting for his son's return because his love was unconditional. He harbored no grudge and anger towards his son. He did not condemn him but had only love for him. Jesus tells us to be like the merciful father. "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt. 5:48)
3. Forgiveness is a choice made after long hours of prayer and soul searching. It is a choice against anger, hurt, pride, doubt, bitterness, cynicism, apathy, suspicion, self-righteousness, harboring a grudge, and irrational need for revenge and settling scores. It is a choice to let go and let God, an option for liberation and freedom. There can be no true forgiveness without prayer. Like the prodigal son, we have wandered away from God's love and mercy. We have chosen ourselves to God. One way to show our reconciliation with God, the Church, and others is through the sacrament of reconciliation. "The confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission, man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible." (CCC 1455). During Lent, we are encouraged to go to confession, do penance and return to God and his Church. Confession is heard here in the Church any time on request.
4. Many of us have left the father's house after demanding our shared inheritance. Some came for baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, or wedding. As soon as they got what they wanted, they left, like the prodigal son, and stopped coming to Church. Some may only come back when they have difficulties, like the saying, "grass is greener on the other side of the mountain till you get there." We must always change our minds and go back to the merciful father. For he is full of mercy and compassion.
5. We are sometimes like the righteous brother who would not forgive his brother but resented the father for doing so. He was envious of his brother and failed to understand that the father's love is not earned; it is pure grace? Like him, we notice the splinter in our brother's eye but do not perceive the wooden beam in our own. (Lk. 6:41). And so, we volunteer to confess the sins of others. We are typical faithful Catholics who are doubtful and fearful of God. We are insecure about ourselves and often question our trust in God. We fear God's punishment more than we trust in his love. We have no experience of what others are going through, so we judge and label them as sinners. We are afraid that we may be found out ourselves and our sins exposed. We often allow the hidden sins of jealousy, pride, and self-centeredness to rule our day and ruin our lives. We, too, must change our minds and embrace God's love. Will the brother ever forgive his brother like his father, come in and join in celebrating his brother's return? Maybe our attitude towards those we perceive as enemies and our unwillingness to forgive them will give us an indication of the mindset of the righteous brother. Today's liturgy exhorts us to be like the merciful father. Be slow to judge but quick to forgive. To Err is human but to forgive is divine. It is better to be lost and found than not to have been lost but be bitter. Amen!
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
No comments:
Post a Comment