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Prodigal son

The Alphabet of Life – Letter R

11 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: "back to his senses", Father, journey, Luke 15:11-32, Prodigal son, return

R for Return

Returning… THE return
The return that the period of Lent proposes to us.
It is one of the important themes of this special season.

An inspiring text of Luke’s gospel describes the journey to which we are invited.
The parable is well known to us – it is the one entitled: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

The familiar story points out that, having squandered all his heritage, the young man finds himself without any resources.
He regrets bitterly all that he used to enjoy in his Father’s house.
It is then that the turnaround takes place!
The text says clearly: “He came to his senses”. Or, “He returned to himself”.

“He came to his senses, he said,
‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare,
and here I am starving to death! 
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him:
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 
I am no longer worthy to be called your son;
make me like one of your hired servants’.”

Having returned to himself, he decides to return to his father.
The welcome that awaits him goes far beyond what he could have anticipated – a feast, yes,
but more still the renewed relationship with his father in the manner of the Father whom Jesus evokes.

“While he was still a long way off,
his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him;
he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him”.

It is precisely this Father – the Father of Jesus – who awaits OUR return.
The return from… our self-complacency,… our obstinacy… our hypocrisy…

We have first to return to ourselves…
Then, step by step, to set out on the road which will bring us back ‘home’ – to HIM.

Source: Image: Free Bible Images

4th Sunday of Lent, C

3 mars 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: extravagance, forgiving, giving, Lk.15:11-32, Prodigal Father, Prodigal son

In many public places, the decor of the waiting-rooms displays some works of art: it can be paintings, sculptures, framed texts, etc.
It is always interesting to look at such pieces and to look also at the titles given to these items.
More than once, I have observed that, surprisingly, the name given to the art works does not correspond to the subject matter of the exhibits. It simply does not reflect what is shown!

Strangely enough, I have the same feeling with the gospel story of this 4th Sunday of Lent (year C): the parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk.15:11-32).
To me, the title should be: The Prodigal FATHER.njchodae.net
In Jesus’ story it is not the son who is prodigal but the father!
It is indeed the father who is giving, and giving again, to his undeserving son, and forgiving him without questioning.

The attitude of someone prodigal is that of a person giving lavishly, over-abundantly, not measuring, not keeping count, piling up good things on a loved one. Such giving, giving with such profusion, some people would qualify of… extravagance!

This was the father’s way:
– giving in to the son who wanted his inheritance there and then;
– keeping hope that the ‘lost’ son will return one day;
– watching the horizon to see if he is not on the way;
– welcoming him back with deep joy;
– no questioning, no checking on what happened, where the son went, how he spent the money and with whom – nothing of the sort: only a warm embrace that restores the son to his right place near the father, no matter the indignation and the recrimination of the other son.

I must admit that… I have never met such a father among the people I live with and those I meet wherever I go.
But… I can say that I have met one – the very One Jesus told us about – who gives more than can ever be expected, or hoped for…
No matter how far we have strayed, no matter how mean and selfish we have shown ourselves to be: an overwhelming welcome is given to us, day after day, after day….
I know from experience what ‘prodigality’ is – God’s own, I mean!

Source: Image: njchodae.net