The Forgiving Father


   The parable today is more popularly known as “The Prodigal Son”.  I need not elaborate further what this is all about as I believe you have read and heard of this many times over.
      To tell you honestly, there are actually times when I’m having a hard time accepting how the prodigal son can easily move back to the comfortable life after squandering half of his Father’s wealth. I can’t blame the “responsible son” for reacting the same way.  If I were him, I could have acted the same way, maybe even gave him cold shoulders for a few weeks just to make him suffer a bit more.

      Recalling one of the talks at the Feast (Catholic prayer gathering of the Light of Jesus family), our preacher shares that most Christians (including Catholic Christians), who are in the ministry or community, are like the “responsible son”.   We tend to be self-righteous to the point that we feel that we should be more privileged or more blessed because we have been good to our service. Even if we admit or not, we tend to get awry and even doubtful when a rebel returns home.
      Over the years, I realized that the parable is neither about the prodigal son nor the better son. It is about the forgiving Father. The love and mercy of a Father is something that we cannot fully define. The only truth that we know is that no amount of sin is greater than the love of a Father. This is how our God is -- ever loving, ever forgiving. His love overwhelms our soul; His love cleanses and leads us to conversion. Sooner enough, His love magnifies our lives.

     Who am I, then, to deny such love?

Prayer:

Ever loving Father, we thank and glorify You for your stubborn love for us. Never let us go from Your hold, and let Your love and generosity rub on us so that we can do the same for our returning brothers. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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