Dear SJMS Community Members
Last Sunday at Mass we heard the parable of the Prodigal Son. This parable only appears in Luke’s Gospel. It is a favourite parable when we are teaching our children about forgiveness and unconditional love.
In the story, the younger son turns his back on his father and runs away. After squandering his father’s gift, he decides it is in his best interests to return home. On his return, the son is not confronted with a closed door but rather with a father waiting on the front porch, waiting for his return.
When the son meets his father, the father is not interested in his son’s excuses but instead embraces him and takes him in immediately. He is home, nothing else matters. This example of the Father is the one Jesus talks to us about. The father, who offers his love and acceptance, to the people around him unconditionally.
In our story the older brother is there to remind us that even if we get our relationship with God wrong, that God’s love is free and forgiving. The older son believes that he has earned his father’s love, but love is not earned it is spontaneous and forgiving.
Henri Nouwen in his book ‘Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming’ says:
“For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life—pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures—and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair.
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”
Over the next week, go back and read this parable and then consider and reflect on the questions raised. As the father said in the parable: ‘let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’
Grace Vassallo-Wakefield
Assistant Principal Religious Identity & Mission