Jesus crashed down through the barriers of time and space and took on our human condition for a number of wonderful reasons, including to redeem the world from sin, to demonstrate the depths of God’s love for us, to open the gates to heaven, to reveal and model a way of life that leads to true human flourishing and to reveal the face of our heavenly Father.
Today’s Gospel parable stands tall among the moments where Jesus shines a warm light onto the face of God, our Father. We often refer to the parable in reference to the younger, prodigal son. I think we should refer to the parable in reference to the most merciful father.
The father exhibits a generosity and mercy completely undeserved and over the top. First of all, what earthly father, well before his death, divides his property and gives half of it to a young and immature son? The son quickly proceeds to run through his inheritance on prostitutes and loose living and, according to the culture of the day, totally severs his relationship with his family. The father anxiously waits for his son to venture back home, sees him coming from a great distance, runs to him and smothers him with an embrace and a kiss. It is worthy to note that in that culture, no adult men ever ran. It was a strong cultural norm.
The father continues to shock us by giving very little attention to the son’s explanation for his return. He is elated to have him home, restores his sonship with a ring and fine robe, and throws a massive party in celebration of his return. Not only does the father forgive the selfishness, lust and horrible indiscretion of the younger son, but he also patiently forgives the pride, resentment and ingratitude of the older son. He pleads with the older son to join the celebration: “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.”
Jesus reveals the Father as one who is generous beyond comprehension, surprisingly quick to forgive us when we turn back to him and driven to be united with us in faith-filled love.
Of course, the undeserved mercy of our heavenly Father is poured out upon mankind through the passion, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. When we come to grasp the full extent of our sins and the devastation they cause God, neighbor and self, it is a cause for deep anxiety and despair. So, when the mercy of the Father washes over us, casting our sins like drops of water into the ocean, we experience a spectacular new life.
St. Paul knew well this blessed reality. He explains it this way: “Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away: behold, new things have come.” The joy, the relief and hope that come from the Father’s over-the-top forgiveness coupled with God’s healing grace in the sacrament of confession are incredibly life-giving. We indeed become a new creation in Christ.
One college student encountered Jesus in a totally new way while on a weeklong service trip with a campus ministry from our diocese. He grew up Catholic but had not come to know Jesus in a personal, intimate way. His encounter with Christ and his mercy throughout the week was powerful. Upon his return, he described his new life in this way: “I was shocked at the suddenness and intensity of the change in my life. On the first morning of our return to (college), I opened my eyes and I was not the same. I knew a joy in my heart that I had never experienced before. I had a crazy, uncharacteristic desire to do generous things for my peers. I was no longer attracted to certain former, unhealthy attachments in my heart. I experienced God in prayer and at Mass like never before … What I want to say is that God restored my faith, my innocence and my life almost without me noticing it. It made me think of Mary Magdalene and how Jesus healed her and helped her get rid of bad attachments. God had always been my Father, but after that trip, he was able to make me his son.”
May our souls rejoice in the greatness of our Father and may we be driven to share this Good News with our small corner of the world. “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad” (Ps 34).
Fr. Peterson is director of mission and development for the Youth Apostles.
Most merciful Father
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Jesus crashed down through the barriers of time and space and took on our human condition for a number of wonderful reasons, including to redeem the world from sin, to demonstrate the depths of God’s love for us, to open the gates to heaven, to reveal and model a way of life that leads to true human flourishing and to reveal the face of our heavenly Father.
Today’s Gospel parable stands tall among the moments where Jesus shines a warm light onto the face of God, our Father. We often refer to the parable in reference to the younger, prodigal son. I think we should refer to the parable in reference to the most merciful father.
The father exhibits a generosity and mercy completely undeserved and over the top. First of all, what earthly father, well before his death, divides his property and gives half of it to a young and immature son? The son quickly proceeds to run through his inheritance on prostitutes and loose living and, according to the culture of the day, totally severs his relationship with his family. The father anxiously waits for his son to venture back home, sees him coming from a great distance, runs to him and smothers him with an embrace and a kiss. It is worthy to note that in that culture, no adult men ever ran. It was a strong cultural norm.
The father continues to shock us by giving very little attention to the son’s explanation for his return. He is elated to have him home, restores his sonship with a ring and fine robe, and throws a massive party in celebration of his return. Not only does the father forgive the selfishness, lust and horrible indiscretion of the younger son, but he also patiently forgives the pride, resentment and ingratitude of the older son. He pleads with the older son to join the celebration: “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.”
Jesus reveals the Father as one who is generous beyond comprehension, surprisingly quick to forgive us when we turn back to him and driven to be united with us in faith-filled love.
Of course, the undeserved mercy of our heavenly Father is poured out upon mankind through the passion, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. When we come to grasp the full extent of our sins and the devastation they cause God, neighbor and self, it is a cause for deep anxiety and despair. So, when the mercy of the Father washes over us, casting our sins like drops of water into the ocean, we experience a spectacular new life.
St. Paul knew well this blessed reality. He explains it this way: “Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away: behold, new things have come.” The joy, the relief and hope that come from the Father’s over-the-top forgiveness coupled with God’s healing grace in the sacrament of confession are incredibly life-giving. We indeed become a new creation in Christ.
One college student encountered Jesus in a totally new way while on a weeklong service trip with a campus ministry from our diocese. He grew up Catholic but had not come to know Jesus in a personal, intimate way. His encounter with Christ and his mercy throughout the week was powerful. Upon his return, he described his new life in this way: “I was shocked at the suddenness and intensity of the change in my life. On the first morning of our return to (college), I opened my eyes and I was not the same. I knew a joy in my heart that I had never experienced before. I had a crazy, uncharacteristic desire to do generous things for my peers. I was no longer attracted to certain former, unhealthy attachments in my heart. I experienced God in prayer and at Mass like never before … What I want to say is that God restored my faith, my innocence and my life almost without me noticing it. It made me think of Mary Magdalene and how Jesus healed her and helped her get rid of bad attachments. God had always been my Father, but after that trip, he was able to make me his son.”
May our souls rejoice in the greatness of our Father and may we be driven to share this Good News with our small corner of the world. “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad” (Ps 34).
Fr. Peterson is director of mission and development for the Youth Apostles.
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