Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
Intention: For a spirit of compassion and generosity among all who are able to share what they have with others, especially with those who are most in need.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
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.’”
Reflection
There is perhaps no better known of Jesus’ parables than that of the prodigal son. A powerful allegory for divine compassion and forgiveness, it also serves as an illustration of what lies at the heart of human sinfulness – the breaking of relationships. The narrative presents three different characters who represent the best and the worst possibilities of our struggle to relate to one another. By identifying alternately with each one, we can explore what it really means to be in human relationships, and how the highs and lows of our humanity is our best – if not our only – path to fully realizing our identity as children of God.
The parable offers several rich opportunities for stepping into the story. Taking on the main characters simply as fellow everyday types, we can look at all of the times when we have been the younger son as well as the older son, and hopefully when we have at least tried to be the father. Viewing the characters as symbols of doing versus not doing God’s will, we can ponder which of the two sons could make the stronger case for true fidelity. Finally, since the story also refers to ingrained religious and cultural mores, we can consider how the characters represent the conflict between and possible resolution of social antagonisms and prejudices. The parable contains all of these issues, but in the end is not really about any of them.
As it turns out, the purpose of the parable is to challenge our notions of justice. What does it look like to treat one another justly and on what is this based? As with all of Jesus’ parables, its answer and what its audience wants to hear are quite different. Those who seek justice that crushes rebellion and affirms conformity, or excoriates failure and rewards success, or belittles weakness and elevates status, end up quite disappointed. This father is different, and the key to knowing how he is different lies in the words, “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.” Who waits for a miscreant, not to exact revenge, but to offer a second chance? It is not possible for one whose notion of justice is rooted in legalism or resentment. It is possible for one whose notion of justice is rooted in unconditional love. The father lived in his hopes for his children. For him, what was right was that they both were whole, regardless of their imperfectness or that of their efforts. In God, justice is not about what we demand from people, but rather what we want for them.
Author Cherie Carter-Scott writes, “Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” Redemption is about the gift of receiving and giving second chances. To be welcomed to try again in putting ourselves in right relationship is the grace that allows us to keep moving toward being fully human. During Lent, we are challenged to consider that life is a flawed journey through a flawed world, and there will be times when we will become lost. Sometimes it will be an imposition on us. Sometimes it will be our imposition on others. It is only through God’s justice as unconditional love that we will be able to find our way home.
Prayer
Eternal Father, every day you call us to holiness. At times, we fall prey to our own pride and begin to judge others. In this time of Lent, help us to learn to live with humble and unassuming eyes, acknowledging our own brokenness and our constant need for your mercy and forgiveness. Fill us with compassion and love for all, that we might be your touch of mercy and welcome to all. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.