THE word “prodigal” means lavish, profuse, or wastefully extravagant. In the Gospel this Sunday, the younger son was prodigal because he profusely squandered his inheritance from his father on meaningless diversions.
On the other hand, the father was “prodigal” because he lavishly forgave his wayward returning son: running to him even before he reached their home, showering him with kisses and embraces, clothing him with the finest robe, putting a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, and slaughtering the fattened calf to give him a big welcome back party! What’s more lavish that these ostentatious gestures? It’s hard to imagine a father demonstrating this boundless love to a deplorable son.
Yet, this is the true message of the parable: the prodigal love of God, our Father. Hence, this parable should not be focused on the sorrow and repentance of the younger son, but on the unconditional and mind-boggling love of his father.
Call the father soft-hearted, “too sweet and easy” and “pampering”, but the Gospel of Jesus has always proclaimed God’s boundless love and mercy. Absolutely, Jesus preached about repentance, but this was always coupled with the tenderness and openness of his Father’s heart. Jesus showed this dynamic by dining with tax collectors, forgiving adulterers and thieves, and associating with other publicly known sinners.
There will always be differences among Christians on how the Church should proclaim the Gospel Some want preachers to be hard, challenging and finger-pointing; naming evil, vanities, immoralities, secularism, and liberalism in the world. Others want preachers to be more sacramental, naming “grace” in the world even in the brokenness of humanity. Others want to proclaim the hard truth of the Gospel, while many people desire to hear its openness, inclusivity, and warmth.
The Good Shepherd, however, has always proclaimed a revolution of love and mercy. He patiently waits for all people to return to Him, who alone gives true peace and does not want anyone to die in eternal anguish. What he offers us is eternal peace of soul, a gift he offered to the Repentant Thief.
In this later part of Lent, may we never doubt God’s patient waiting, lavish love and forgiveness to anyone who finally realizes his or her lost of direction. May we come back to the Father with the assurance of his undying love for each one of us!
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
