INVITED TO RECONCILIATION

IV SUNDAY OF LENT - Luke 15:1-3,11-32

In his second letter to the Corinthians (2 Co 5:17-21), Paul invites us to reconcile with God, and that reconciliation is done in Jesus Christ. And Paul goes on telling us that Christ entrusted us (the Church) with the ministry of reconciliation. Lent is a special time during which the call for reconciliation is heard.

In the parable of the father who had two sons (known as the parable of the prodigal son), Jesus presents the Father’s attitude towards his children when they sin and illustrates as well his children possible attitudes towards reconciliation.

The two sons, in spite of being quite different in character, are very similar in their attitude towards the father. Both of them feel oppressed and hope for the freedom to be themselves. Both of them ignored and despised the father’s love, and were decided to get rid of him, even though they did it in very different ways. The youngest one left home, after extorting a fortune from his father, and went in search of freedom, pleasure and happiness, eventually falling into the baseness of fattening pigs (which for the Jews were impure animals), while starving with hunger. The elder did not have the courage to leave the house, and he appeared to be compliant and obedient; yet he lived like a stranger, full of bitterness, waiting patiently for the day when he would be master of everything. He turned his back on everybody and accused his father of injustice. The elder brother looked like an obedient and responsible man and he had a very good self-image, thinking of himself as just and holy, claiming for himself the right to accuse and to judge his father. He was hard on himself and very demanding to the others. He had no time for anything, but work. Although he accused his father of not even giving him a little kid to eat with his friends, we can guess by his father's answer that he was a miser and would not spend a penny to celebrate with his friends; after all, he had no friends. And we may conclude that his pride, his avarice, and his meanness drove him away from everyone. In his heart, there was only bitterness, envy and resentment. Looking upon himself as just, he was unable to acknowledge his sin and lacked the humility to ask for forgiveness and to accept the forgiveness offered to him. And he stood proudly alone. Indeed, it is difficult to recognise the attitudes that separate us from others and from God! Being very strict to others, we are extremely lenient to ourselves. It is no surprise that many people can easily say that they have no sins.

Facing hardship, the youngest son was able to reflect upon his life and, realising the madness of the path he had taken, changed his course. Trusting his father’s good heart, he went back home, where he found unconditional love far beyond what he could expect.

Both brothers needed to reconcile with the father. However, only one recognised his sin and made an effort to change his attitude. That was made possible because he became aware of his sinfulness while being sure that his father would not reject him completely. In fact, the father did not reject any of the two brothers and appealed to the elder one to recognise his brother and to reconcile, feeling at home in the house that also belongs to him.

The parable keeps us in suspense and uncertainty. We know that the younger brother entered the house, but we are not sure about the elder one. Did accept his father’s invitation or was he so full of himself that he chose to remain outside? We may ask ourselves what is going to be our choice.