Daily Reflection: 16th Day of Lent

It’s a shame there is no daily mass on Saturdays, because today’s readings are really awesome.

The first reading (Micah 7:14-15, 18-20) is yet another example of how God is referred to as our “shepherd”:

Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland,
in the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old;
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt
and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us,
treading underfoot our guilt?
You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.

The psalm (103:1-4, 9-12) is beautiful and is one that I love to sing in many forms:

The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
The Lord is kind and merciful.

And the gospel (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32) is the familiar parable of the Prodigal Son:

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘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;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”

Let’s take a look at the three main characters in this parable. First, you have two sons. One of them left home, squandered his inheritance and basically ends up homeless and starving. In the depths of despair, he decides to swallow his pride and return home to his father and beg forgiveness. He tells his father that he has sinned against him and against heaven and that he no longer deserves to be called his son, and that he should be treated as a hired worker. (Remember the other day we read that he who humbles himself shall be exalted?)

Next, you have the older son, the stable, upright, ever faithful firstborn who has done no wrong and feels angry that his father has never celebrated him as he is now celebrating the younger son. I can understand why he feels that way, but what his father says to him (which we will get to in a moment) is very telling.

Finally, we have the father, who of course, is an allegory for God the father. The father is thrilled that his prodigal son has returned home and has a huge feast to celebrate his return. As a parent, I totally “get” this. If my child had left home and I had no communication with him or her for an extended period of time and I had probably been thinking they were dead or worse, and they had come home with a humble and contrite heart, I would do the same type of thing and be so thrilled and happy to see them. And of course, all would be forgiven. (Does that mean I’d automatically trust them with property or money again? No. Not at all, but I’d certainly celebrate their homecoming.) The fact that the father does this for his prodigal son is very important, and it serves to remind us that God will also take us back with open arms when we sin and turn away from him, but I think what the father says to the older son is also very important. He says, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.” Everything I have is yours. Everything. The father has no reason not to trust the older son. He, in fact, trusts him with everything he owns. He is in no way putting the younger son above the older son. Instead he says, everything I have is yours, BUT look here is your brother whom we thought was dead, we need to celebrate that he is alive. He was lost and is now found.

If only we all had a father like that. Oh wait, we do! Our father God is just like that. He celebrates our return from being lost. But to those who have never been lost? Everything he has is theirs. Wow. I think this may be one of my favorite parables because it truly shows our Father’s love for each and every one of us. The lost, the found, and the here with him always.

Amy Grant has a beautiful song on her album Unguarded called “The Prodigal (I’ll Be Waiting)” about this very story. I searched, but I couldn’t find a video or an mp3 that I could link to, so I’ll just post the lyrics. It’s always been one of my favorites of her songs, and if you’re interested in buying it, I checked and it is available through iTunes.

I face the day again
Against the window pane.
I remain your closest friend,
And wish you back again.
You wonder how I feel;
You think you’ve pushed too far.
If only you could see this pen
Scribbling down my heart.

I’ll be waiting.
I may be young or old and gray,
Counting the days,
But I’ll be waiting,
And when I finally see you come,
I’ll run when I see you–
I’ll meet you.

But still the days drag on.
Why did you decide to go?
Did you only need to see
What only time can show?

I’ll be waiting.
I may be young or old and gray,
Counting the days,
But I’ll be waiting,
And when I finally see you come,
I’ll run when I see you.

And even if
You never do return,
Still I will have learned
How to love you better.

I’ll be waiting.
I may be young or old and gray,
Counting the days,
But I’ll be waiting,
And when I finally see you come,
I’ll run to meet you.

I’ll be waiting.
I may be young or old and gray,
Counting the days,
I’ll be waiting,
And when I finally see you come,
I’ll run to meet you.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for your son Jesus who told us these parables that we might know how great your love for us truly is. You love all of your children. The ones who never stray, and the ones who do, just as we as parents on earth love our children - the ones who disobey and the ones who do not. Help us, Lord, to know that if we are lost, you will celebrate our being found, and if we are always there, everything you have will be ours. Thank you, Lord, so much, for your kindness and your mercy. Thank you for pardoning our sins, for healing our illnesses, for redeeming our lives from destruction. Thank you for your compassion. Thank you for being our shepherd.
In the name of Jesus the Christ,
Amen.

Questions for reflection: This is a challenging parable for some people, how do you feel about the three characters in this story? How has God shown you his kindness and mercy?