The Prodigal "Father"

Homily for Saturday of the Second Week in Lent

The parable of the prodigal is one of the most familiar in the Gospel of Saint Luke. Perhaps you have even read Henri Nouwen’s popular book that uses a famous painting of this parable to explore the various people who populate it.

Because it is one of three parables found in the fifteenth chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel, we must pay attention to the first very important lines: “The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So to them he addressed this parable.”

We have heard this objection made by the Pharisees before. They cannot understand why Jesus chooses to associate with such people. There can be no misunderstanding as Jesus draws near to the end of this story. They are the older son who objects when his father welcomes the return of the younger son. They are overconfident in their own virtues and fidelity to God and criticize whatever doesn’t seem to match their view of how the world should work. They feel entitled, seek recognition, and want special accolades because they do not see themselves as sinners.

Unfortunately, we are no better than the older son and no worse than the younger. As members of Christ’s Body, we are meant to rejoice when anyone who was lost is found once again. We rejoice because we realize that we need the mercy, we need the grace that the father in this story lavishes upon his younger son. Praise and glory be to God who is generous beyond measure, we might even say “prodigal,” with both mercy and grace.