TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s Gospel (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) is arguably the most famous parable in the Gospels, the Prodigal Son; it starts out this way:

“‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again…” (v. 22-24a)

“Mercy – as Christ has presented it in the parable of the prodigal son – has the interior form of the love that in the New Testament is called agape. This love is able to reach down to every prodigal son, to every human misery, and above all to every form of moral misery, to sin. When this happens, the person who is the object of mercy does not feel humiliated, but rather found again and restored to value.

“The father first and foremost expresses to him his joy that he has been ‘found again’ and that he has ‘”‘returned to life.’ This joy indicates a good that has remained intact: even if he is a prodigal, a son does not cease to be truly his father’s son; it also indicates a good that has been found again, which in the case of the prodigal son was his return to the truth about himself…

“The parable of the prodigal son expresses in a simple but profound way the reality of conversion. Conversion is the most concrete expression of the working of love and of the presence of mercy in the human world. The true and proper meaning of mercy does not consist only in looking, however penetratingly and compassionately, at moral, physical or material evil: mercy is manifested in its true and proper aspect when it restores to value, promotes and draws good from all the forms of evil existing in the world and in man. Understood in this way, mercy constitutes the fundamental content of the messianic message of Christ and the constitutive power of His mission.” (Dives in Misericordia as quoted in The Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels, 389)

I chose the verses at top because the homilist at today’s Mass inspired me to think of the robe put on the son as a metaphor for God’s grace covering us, bringing us from death to life, when we confess serious sin. The Lord Jesus lived and died and rose so we may have an abundant life here and for all eternity. We must not discard the grace we receive at Baptism, but if we do through mortal sin, the Divine Doctor is ready, waiting, and eager to heal us through His priest in the confessional. No matter how prodigal we’ve been, the Father is always desiring to embrace us, constantly looking down the road to welcome us back into the fold. Remember, whether you are the prodigal or its your brother, Jesus says:

“[T]here will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

So, if its you, don’t hesitate to come back and make heaven rejoice. And, if its your fellow human, don’t begrudge the fact that he has made the angels sing.

Bp Barron has an extended commentary on this parable in the same book that was quotes above (pp. 392-400); you should know that you can count on excellent exegesis and splendid spiritual insights from His Excellency. I highly recommend The Word on Fire Bible. Three volumes have come out so far: The Pentateuch, The Gospels, and Acts, Letters, and Revelation. Four more volumes are planned.

Finally, several years ago I read Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. I highly recommend this book as it looks at the story through the eyes of all three characters in the parable. Very interesting with profound insights.

The Prodigal Son (1989) by Clark Kelley Price

God bless.