Reflection On Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32

Today, we have one of the most famous parables in the entire Bible. It’s the story of the man with two sons. It is one of Jesus’ most original tales. We normally refer to it as the Parable of the Prodigal Son or sometimes as the story of the Forgiving Father. Actually, it could better and more properly be called the Parable of the Prodigal Father.  His prodigality is much more evident than is that of his son. The father was extremely prodigal with his money when he so easily handed it over to his wayward son. Generally the inheritance would have been conferred on him only after his father’s death. The father’s “prodigality” is also shown in his total forgiveness if his son when at last he decided to return. It’s one of Sacred Scripture’s most wonderful commentaries on the relationship of God to his people.
No one is rotten to the core. Every person instinctively responds to God’s call. There is no helpless soul, for the soul is God’s implanted hope. Jesus sees promise in his strange friends; He was not blind to their needs. The prodigal son, the tax collector and the sinners were in fact lost ones. But Jesus befriends them; He comes in search of the sinners, awaiting their return. God has become incarnate to seek us in our looseness. He comes out like a Father who waits for the return of his beloved son. God’s love is so great, His forgiveness is unbelievable. It defeats all human calculations. God wants to reclaim every prodigal son and rejoice over him at his return. But do we ever take the risk and pain of going to the other side of the track when we falter? Can we, like the prodigal son, make a return to the Father?
As we read again this parable of divine mercy and forgiveness, we are reminded of the lyrics of a modern religious song: “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have loved you and you are mine.” We may have spent much time, effort and money getting ourselves into trouble as did the son in today’s parable. Regardless, we can be assured that God will gladly spend much more to get us out of it. He is truly a Prodigal Father to us all.
Questions to ponder:
How do you interpret the term ‘Prodigal Father’ in your words?
Have you ever been in such experience?
Is your love unconditional?


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