Joshua  5:9a.10-12
Psalm  33
2Corinthians  5:17-21
Luke  15:1-3;11-32
 
Reflections

Good news! “The feast in the Father's house has just begun... come, everybody!” It is the invitation of Jesus himself (Gospel) to illustrate the limitless love of God, Father and Mother, in the most wonderful of parables, known as the “Parable of the Prodigal Son”. It is only a partial title, because it only takes into account the younger son and it ignores the elder son who, equally or even more, deserves to be criticised. Indeed, a better title would be that of the ‘parable of the merciful father’, as he is the protagonist, whose love is at the centre of the whole story. Luke's Gospel is known as the ‘Gospel of mercy’. Chapter 15, which contains the three parables of mercy, is the ‘Gospel within the Gospel’, the Good News par excellence.

 
It is enough to highlight just one or two points from this parable, as it is well known and commented on. Very conveniently, the Gospel text chosen for today’s liturgical reading includes the first verses of Chapter 15 of Luke's Gospel, so that we are given the context of the parable, with Jesus who welcomes tax-collectors and sinners and eats with them; and those at whom it is point ed also appear: the Pharisees and Scribes who complain (vv. 1-3). The same people appear at the end, in the person of the elder brother.

 
We should take note of the five verbs with which Luke describes the outpouring of the love of the father at his son's return: he saw him (far off); he was moved with pity; he ran to the boy; he clasped him in his arms and kissed him (v. 20). There follow the commands of the father to denote the complete rehabilitation of the son who has been found again: the best robe (a sign of his dignity in the family), the ring on his finger (power), sandals on his feet (the mark of a free man). And then the fat calf (reserved for great occasions) and the celebration for everyone. It is the feast that irritates the elder brother as he comes home from the fields (v. 22-23). His father goes out to try to make him understand why there is such joy: it was necessary to rejoice, because your brother has come back! (v. 32).

 
The two brothers are present in each one of us: both of them have something to be reproached, so both need conversion. For Jesus, the ideal to which we must turn is the merciful Father: He welcomes all without making exceptions, pardons everyone freely, wants all to live in his house. Concerning this journey of conversion, Henri J.M. Nouwen has written a marvellous book of meditations on The Return of the Prodigal Son, with Rembrandt's famous painting as the starting point. One reflection is amazing: “I am destined to take the place of my Father and offer to others the same compassion that he offered me. The return to the Father is, in the end, a challenge to become the Father”.

 
Jesus did not bring his parable to a conclusion; he left it open. It is not certain that the elder son actually went in to the feast; we do not know whether the younger son was rid of his silly behaviour for good. But we do know that in that house there is room for all, and there are still places to be filled! One thing is certain: nobody, son or servant, can have the slightest doubt as to the father's love! And everyone now realises that in his house he wants to have sons, not servants; people who share in his loving purpose, and not just in things to be done (v. 31). It is only by living in the Father's house that we can find life and happiness; because he wants only our good, our fulfilment, and he teaches us where and how to find it. We are not creators or architects of our own destiny. We will never find life and happiness by pursuing our personal success away from the Father’s house, but only by following the Lord in simplicity and trust.

 
A new way of living is inaugurated in the house of that good Father: as sons, and no longer as slaves. A similar experience to that of the People of Israel (1st. Reading) who, after 40 years in the desert, after the crossing of the Jordan, was about to take possession of the promised land, where they would no longer eat with the insecurity of a stranger but feed on the fruits of the fields, tilled by their own hands. St. Paul remarks that every good experience is to be shared with others (2nd Reading). The one who has experienced the merciful goodness of God and has begun to live a new relationship with Him as a child and a friend (v. 17) feels the need to involve others in the same experience of life and reconciliation. This is what constitutes Mission: to share the experience and to bring others in accepting into their lives the merciful and regenerating love of the Father! Mission is to announce the mercy of the Father and to work in such a way so that mercy becomes the framework of new relationships among people and among peoples. (*) This is a missionary service of quality for the development of a new humanity.

 

The Pope's Words

(*)  "Society can become ever more human only if we introduce into the many-sided setting of interpersonal and social relationships, not merely justice, but also that "merciful love" which constitutes the messianic message of the Gospel".

John Paul II

Encyclical Dives in Misericordia, 30.11.1980, N. 14

 
In the footsteps of Missionaries

-15/3: St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660), widow, who founded the Daughters of Charity along with St. Vincent de Paul.

- 15/3: Bl. Artemide Zatti (1880-1951), a Salesian and medical missionary in Patagonia (Argentina).

- 15/3: The birth-day of St. Daniel Comboni (1831-1881): he was born in Limone on Lake Garda (Prov. of Brescia) and died in Khartoum (Sudan); he was the first Vicar Apostolic (Bishop) of Central Africa.

- 17/3: St. Patrick (385-461), born in England, he was the great missionary and evangeliser to Ireland. He was the Bishop of Armagh and is patron of Ireland.

- 18/3: St. Cyril (+386), Bishop of Jerusalem and famous for his catecheses; he suffered frequent persecution from the Arians.

- 19/3: St. Joseph, the “just man” (Mt 1:19), husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus. He is Patron of the Universal Church.

- 20/3: Bl. Francis Palau y Quer (1811-1872), member of the Discalced Carmelites; he suffered frequent persecution, was a Founder and preached missions to the people.