Dear Sisters and Brothers in Faith:
This week’s gospel passage presents one of my all-
time favorite parables of Jesus—The Prodigal Son.
Jesus was a master story-teller and his parables nev-
er failed to draw the interest of his listeners and
make a point to remember.
In the lectio divina form of prayers as is explained in
our “Little Black Book” for Lent, I like to place myself
in a parable such as this and ask myself, “Am I any-
thing like the Prodigal Son? Or am I anything like the
Older Brother? Or am I anything like the loving, for-
giving Father?” As I contemplate the possible an-
swers to those questions, I conclude that, at various
times in my life, I have acted exactly as the prodigal
Son, The Older Brother, and the Father.
Oh, I didn’t demand my share of my father’s estate,
but I did leave home as soon as I could enlist in the
military after high school. It was my wish to get away
from the demands and restrictions I felt in my par-
ents’ home. I held a responsible position in the ser-
vice, but my personal life was not what one might call
exemplary. Coming to my senses after four years, I
returned to my parents’ home and lived there until
the time of my marriage.
While I was away in the service, my sister was strick-
en with a debilitating condition that has plagued her
until this very day. When I saw the way my parents
cared for her in their home and catered to her every
wish and need, I admit, to my shame, that I was
somewhat resentful toward her. Today, those feel-
ings have long since dissipated, but I actually be-
haved after the manner of the Older Brother for a
time.
Many years later I found myself in the position of the
Father in this parable. My teen-aged son, after the
fashion of so many teen-aged sons, made some bad
decisions that led to a car accident that eventually
involved the police. Moved with pity for my wayward
son, I forgave him, embraced him, and we moved on
with life.
So it is with our Heavenly Father. He never fails to
show us his mercy through his Church and the Sac-
raments—especially the Sacrament of Reconcilia-
tion. We are in the holy season of Lent and now is
the time to avail ourselves of God’s never ending
mercy during this Jubilee Year. It is my belief that the
Father in the parable of the Prodigal Son is none oth-
er than God the Father of us all and he is always
ready, willing, and able to welcome us home with
robes and rings and sandals and celebratory feasts!
I hope you have a Christ-filled week!
St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us!
May the Holy Spirit always be with you.
Deacon Mike