The Gospel that we have just heard contains three parables about God’s mercy: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, which is commonly known as the parable of the Prodigal Son.
I would like to spend some time with you on this last parable, and reflect upon the figures of the father, the younger son, and the older son.
There are some who can empathize with, or identify themselves with, the father. The father in the parable is the one who continually watches for the return of the son. He is the one who observes the road, leading back to the family home. He is the one who keeps his heart open to forgiveness and reconciliation. Perhaps some of you are merciful fathers, merciful mothers, watching for the return of that prodigal son or daughter. Perhaps some disagreement happened over something trivial or important, and now your son, your daughter, refuses to speak with you, and has become estranged from you. I would like to encourage you to keep your hope, and keep praying, because God will find a way for the fountain of grace to reach also your beloved child. Silently and hiddenly the grace of God is working, and so are your prayers. So, for the merciful fathers or merciful mothers, as you watch and wait, for that email, for that phone call, for that visit, do not give up your hope and your prayer. For the father, the story in the parable has a happy ending. Pray and hope that your story will end in a similar way.
There are others who can identify with the younger son. The younger son made a spectacular mistake, which not only affected his social position and status, but, worse of all, estranged him from his family, his father in particular. Through greed the younger son tried to find freedom, and instead, found bondage and disillusionment. The money wasted could not be regained, and the dissolution and immorality could not be undone. And yes, in the case of the younger son, God’s providence used even famine and hunger to drive him back home, after, tellingly, he came to his senses, he came to himself. In front of his father he makes a confession of his wrongs, he admits his fault, and this younger son not only finds forgiveness, but a full restitution to the father’s graces. For the younger son too, the story has a happy ending.
There is yet another figure in the parable, that of the older son. He is the one who has grown cold and distant from his father. On the exterior, he is present – on the interior, he too has become estranged. The older son sees himself oppressed by his father: his statement “I have been working like a slave for you” is a testimony to this sentiment. The older son sees himself as treated unfairly by the father and hangs on to his grudge against him. In the parable, when the younger son returns, he is out in the field, working perhaps, or maybe stewing. When you’re out by yourself in the bush, in the garden, or in the workshop, you can work, or stew, brood over things. The older son goes above and beyond in pointing out his brother’s faults, he is the one who administers justice. But his justice has forgotten a key element. As St. Gregory the Great states, “They however who pride themselves on a righteousness that is hollow despise everyone else and are without any compassion for the weak” (Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers, M.F. Toal ed., vol. III, pg. 191, 1959). Justice requires mercy, as St. Gregory spells out, “true justice feels compassion, the false only scorn” (Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers, M.F. Toal ed., vol. III, pg. 191, 1959). The merciful father comes out to plead with his older son, the man of justice who forgot compassion, but we do not know how it all actually ended. Did the older brother join the banquet, or did he remain outside, estranged, alone?
The father, the younger son, and the older son. A simple parable, a simple story. Let us pray to always have a compassionate mind, and to temper justice with mercy. Let us always have it in our heart to rejoice, with Our Lady and the Angels of heaven, at one sinner who repents.
(Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, OMI, Sept. 11, 2022)