The Prodigal Son: Let Us Mirror the Father

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"Your accumulated offenses do not surpass the multitude of God's mercies." This quote by St. Cyril, whose feast was celebrated last week, can be recognized as the central theme in this week's Gospel of the 4th Sunday of Lent—The Prodigal Son. The parable of The Prodigal Son is arguably the most gripping of our Lord's parables as it encapsulates the heart and meaning of his life while here on earth.

The parable begins with our Lord acknowledging the Pharisees' discomfort in our Lord partaking in a meal with sinners. The very consuming of food was thought to be a sacred act by which specific laws must be abided. For the sake of argument, let us assume that the Pharisees abided by righteousness in their everyday lives. After

discerning the parable of The Prodigal Son, one can see how much the heart of the law is missed in themselves and all of us.

At this point in Lent, we are called to a deep understanding of the true conversion of heart required to live out Christ's message. In this context, true conversion means a profound change in our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, aligning them with Christ's teachings. While the title of the parable suggests focused attention to the Prodigal Son, our Lord's focus was always on the Father's love, which embraces and goes out to meet

both sons.

The agape love of the Father, his selfless and infinite love of his sons, does not speak but acts toward his sons. All that is required for the conversion of the heart is the desire to seek the Father's love and mercy. As St. Cyril suggested, no one escapes God's love or is too far away. The Father runs towards the prodigal son at the moment he sees him. No matter what our sinful lives suggest, when we humbly turn to our Lord, those times we have humiliated ourselves are mercifully met with forgiveness and love. We can all live a life of virtue, thanks to our Baptism and being called to share in the Father's Sonship. For those times in which we have turned our back and walked away from our Baptismal promises, we return to the Father of mercies in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

As mentioned, we are called to emulate the Father, the central character of the parable of The Prodigal Son. True conversion and living are at the heart of the law, and our Saviour demands that we seek out those who need love and mercy. The agape love of selflessness and infinite mercy seeks out those who need mercy as a virtue in action.

Let us not be like the Pharisees in the parable, who lived by the letter of the law. They represent those who follow the rules but lack the spirit of love and forgiveness. Let us mirror the Father, who wished those lost to be found, forgiven, loved, and called to be a part of His Eucharistic table.