This weekend’s gospel is the great
parable we know as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11-32).
There is so much in this
story and much has been written and said about it over the years. I can see
myself as both sons at times in my journey. I have experienced like the younger
song, forgiveness and compassion, but I have at times been like the older son,
greedy and jealous. I have had the experience on retreat of being wrapped in a
‘fine cloak’ and a ‘ring’ put on my finger as part of a ritual. A powerful
moment indeed. I have heard many reflections on this parable, seen many creations
by artists of it and have spent my own time pondering it. Like I said so much,
days, even months’ worth of reflection have been dedicated to this parable. As
I pondered it this past week a few lines have struck me and spoke to me at this
point in my journey.
“Filled with Compassion’
This is how God is with us.
This is how God is when God sees us.
This is how God is pouring out God’s
love for us.
‘The Best’
How we are created.
What God desires for us to be.
How we are treated by our loving God.
‘You are always with me and what is
mine is yours’
Emmanuel – God with us.
No matter what, God is always with us
and desires for us to be with Him.
God calls us into a deeper fullness
with Christ, and desires to lavish us with good things.
‘Life’
The gift of Christ.
The gift of forgiveness, healing and
transformation.
The gift of our journey, which leads
to the cross and life everlasting.
The challenge of these four short
lines from this parable is simply that, they are challenge. They challenge
me/us to embrace the reality that God is with me/us in it all, even when I/we
doubt it. It challenges us that God’s love is more than what we try to
understand it to be and contain it to be. It challenges me to claim being a
redeemed child of God instead of choosing second rate options. It challenges us
to be amazed at God’s compassion, generosity, promises and the goodness that is
poured into life. Like the prodigal son it calls me to transformation. It
calls me to be honest with myself. It calls me to continue to say, “God, I give
you permission to continue to do something new in me.”
May the challenges of this great
parable of Jesus
truly continue to be at work in us this Lenten
week.
Great answer!!!!!
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