Jos 5:9a-10-12; 2Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
For Readings
Mahatma Gandhi,
is a world known national leader. In his autobiography, he writes about his own
experience of theft, confession and forgiveness as a schoolboy. “ I was fifteen
when I stole a bit of gold out of my brother's armlet to clear a debt. But this
became more than I could bear. I resolved never to steal again. I also made up
my mind to confess it to my father. But I did not dare to speak. I wrote it on
a slip of paper and handed it to him myself. In this note not only did I
confess my guilt, but also requested an adequate punishment for it. I also
pledged myself never to steal in the future. I was trembling as I handed the
confession to my father. He sat up to read it. Tear drops trickled down his
cheeks, wetting the paper. For a moment he closed his eyes in thought and then
tore up the note. I also cried. Those tear drops of love cleansed my heart, and
washed my sin away. I had thought that he would be angry, say hard things. But
he was so wonderfully peaceful, and I believe this was due to my clean
confession. I know that my confession made my father feel absolutely safe about
me, and increased his affection for me beyond measure."
Today’s readings speak of deliverance from
slavery to freedom, God’s mercy and forgiving love. In the first reading, we
see Joshua, who takes the Israelites to the Promised Land after 40 years of a
long preparatory journey through the desert. The paschal lamb and freedom seen
there are the foreshadowing of our freedom from sin to the state of children of
God, through the sacrifice of Jesus. St.Paul, in the second reading, reminds us
of the reconciliation Jesus brought for us and to live in that state of grace.
The Gospel, presents the beautiful parable
of ‘prodigal son and the forgiving father’s love. During this year of Mercy, it
has special importance, as we reflect on Jesus as the face of heavenly father’s
mercy. Every individual experiences this condition of the prodigal son in his
or her life in one way or the other, earthly or spiritual. Many times I hear
people say, ‘father, I was not good enough in my past for many years and now I
think I have to come back to the faith and live a good life’. Here, I see a
connection, they find between faith in God, conversion and good life. This year
of mercy specially invites to the sacrament of reconciliation and experience
heavenly Father’s Merciful love.
In the parable, the son abandoned the
father and family, while the father never abandoned the son. In this story, we
can also see the normal response of an ordinary individual, in such a situation
in the character of elder son whom the father advises, to accept the younger
brother as a new person. Jesus compares the Pharisees, to this elder brother in
their attitude towards the society-labeled sinners and outcasts. For Jesus, a
human being is a human being, the child of God, whether he or she had committed
sin or not and once repented, with a sincere heart, he or she regains God’s
grace. It is like a hundred dollar currency bill. Whether it is new crisp $100 bill or a
soiled and rumpled $100 bill it there is no change in value. Both bear equal
value. For God each and every one of us is His child.
In fact, Jesus said this parable not addressing the crowd who thought to be
sinful, but the group that criticized Jesus for accepting sinners and the
downtrodden. Here the self-righteous Pharisees stand at the place of elder son.
The change Jesus wanted was in the Pharisees.
Every individual who lives away from God,
or follow an immoral life longs for mercy, love and forgiveness at one point or
another. A ray of forgiveness and love at that point may open wide a door for
his or her repentance and a better life. Many times we may not be in the place
of prodigal son, but of elder son, practicing faith without understanding our
real position, and serving many created gods or assumed gods, along with the
real God. The elder son considered what he does, as the best way to please his
father. But at the time of test, the result showed it to be wrong. The elder
son, served his father with total loyalty, worked hard, but didn’t share in his
forgiving love, which was the most important one. So the father, tells him to
follow his forgiving love, without considering the strayed past of his younger
brother.
Understanding our actual position, is the
basis for conversion and God’s grace. One has to understand his or her position
to proceed in the right direction. The Lenten period, is the time to know where
are we and proceed in the right direction, experiencing our heavenly Father’s
mercy and forgiving love. Whether we are in the place of younger son or elder son,
let us look at our loving and merciful heavenly Father, who is waiting for us
with His grace. Also let us pray for grace to live the role of forgiving loving
father in our daily lives. Let us make our life a rejoicing one and others life
more joyful. God bless you.
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