“Staying true and good, in faithfulness and obedience!”
(Based on Mic 7:14-15, 18-20 and Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 – Saturday of the 2nd Week of Lent)
A group of teenagers were planning for a party…
… and someone suggested that they go to a certain restaurant-cum-bar for a “more enjoyable” time.
“I’d rather go home,” said Jeffrey, to his friends, “My parents don’t approve of that place.”
“Haha! Are you afraid your father will hurt you?” one of the girls said sarcastically to him.
“No,” Jeffrey replied, “I’m afraid I might hurt my Father!”
The young boy understood the true meaning of staying true and good…
… not because of fear of punishment
… rather, for fear of hurting the one who loves you!
When you love someone, you remain true to the person…
… in faithfulness and obedience
… in sincerity and respect
The Gospel of the Day – the Parable of the Prodigal Son – is the beautiful exposition of the “lost son” realising the true meaning of Love…
… as He experienced the Unconditionally True Love of the Heavenly Father!
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is surely one of the most popular, the most loved and the most touching parables of Jesus.
This parable has three main characters and we could view any of them as playing the main role in the story:
- The Prodigal Son
He went away from the love of his father
Inheritance was given to children only after the death of the father
In asking the inheritance, therefore, alluded to the fact that the Prodigal son considered his father to be dead!
But having spent his life in useless living, he realised the emptiness and vacuum that filled his heart.
And so he decided to turn back…
… and go to his father
- The Elder Son
He remained the faithful “servant” of the house
But when he saw, that his brother – who had wasted away the inheritance, was received with so much warmth, his temper rose!
He couldn’t digest the fact that his brother who lived a “wasted life” was honoured….
… whereas he was never given the chance to “enjoy with his friends”
The context of the parable is Jesus speaking to the “Pharisees and scribes” who were “complaining that Jesus always accepted sinners” (Lk 15: 1-2)
In this context, the character of the Elder Son portrayed the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes.
- The Beloved Father
But beyond these two characters towers high the Image of the Father – the Father who loved and accepted his lost son!
He suffered a deep pain when his younger son went away
He underwent immense pain waiting for the son to come back
He went through moments of dilemma when his elder son was opposing the welcome of the younger one
Yet through all this, the Character of the Father towers high!
He is the Father of Mercies…
… Who accepts all, just as they are
He is the Father of Love…
… Who loves everyone, unconditionally
He is the Father of Compassion…
… Who receives all to His loving embrace
In our life, often as children – like the Prodigal Son – we go away.
We try to do something good…
… but our life turns into a mess!
Our student life gets messed up with lack of commitment and failures
Our marriage hits the rocks with misunderstandings and lack of acceptance
Our family life gets into a crisis with lack of unity and peace of mind
We feel our life is all in a mess…
We find ourselves lost, frustrated and upset!
But in all such situations, we need to look up…
… and see how the Loving Father is waiting to embrace us…
… and love us!
Yes, the Merciful Father is waiting for each one of us…
… Whatever be the mess, that my life may be in!
Let us run into His embrace of Love…
… with a sincere repentance and contrition of heart
And pledge to live for Him, and with Him…
… forever!
Let us stay true and good…
… not because of fear of punishment
… rather, for fear of hurting the One Who loves us the most!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments
The apostle St. Paul reminds us of this: “He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence,…
… ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (CCC # 2196)
Reflection Capsules 