Reflection from Lk 15, 1-3. 11-32
We have
accompanied the proclamation of the parable of the merciful father. This
parable shows the special way of God dealing with the sinners. This special way
was revealed by Jesus, whom is called also “the face of the mercy of God,
because everything in him speaks about mercy.” He narrated this parable because
in that context, where he lived, some people considered themselves worthy of
the salvation of God more than others, because their fidelity to the law. They
decided to separate the people in two different groups, such as, the righteous
ones and the sinner ones. This authority doesn’t come from God because the
criterion used is the discrimination. In this case, it becomes very difficult
to create fraternity and to enter in communion with God, who welcomes everybody
in order to save all. As incarnation of God’s mercy, Jesus had very clear
option: “This man welcomes the sinners and even eats with them” The identity of
Jesus was very clear even for the ones who made opposition to him. So, Jesus
not only spoke about God’s mercy, but also used gestures of welcome, confirming
the finality of his mission and the authenticity of his teaching. In fact, many
taxi collectors, prostitutes and others rejected by society felt themselves
welcomed by Jesus and transformed by the meeting with God’s mercy. It is in
this context that we can understand this parable narrated by Jesus.
According to Jesus, God is a
Father who has different children and shares his gifts in equal way with all. He
loves all and wants that all should feel in family, participating of his joy as
Father. In this family he offers care and protection so that all should have
good reasons to remain always with him. When somebody decides acting against
him and to stay very far from him, it is not because he/she doesn’t feel loved
by the Father, but it is because he/she feels free. Like this is the experience
of the love of the Father: it is expression of his generosity and gratuity,
which generates freedom. We feel ourselves very far from him when we act
against him, that is, when we commit sin. God feels himself abandoned and
betrayed, but doesn’t stop loving. For that we feel remorse and also attracted
to recover the experience of communion which we had lost because the sin. The
experience of the mercy of God helps us to know him better and to use the right
discernment in our decisions. We celebrate this reality through the Sacrament
of Reconciliation, that is, reconciliation with God, with others and with
ourselves.
In the Sacrament of
Reconciliation we celebrate the experience of return to the communion with God,
as “the prodigal son” did. This experience allows us to participate in the
sacrament of Eucharist, nourishing the communion with God and others with more
intensity. God makes us to feel really touched and embraced by his love of
Father. The own God tell us through the prophet
Jeremiah: “You are my dearest son/daughter, the child I love best. Whenever I
mention your name, I think of you with love (Jr 31, 20).” There is another personality
in this parable who neither feel himself son - because according to his own
words, he is employee - nor brother, because ignores his brother, the young one.
He prevents the full joy of the Father and the fullness of the feast. Being
reconciled with God and with others are necessary conditions so that our
Eucharistic experience should be true. We are in intense communion with God if
we share his feelings in relating to others. The Eucharist will never reach its
total finality while others continue being ignored in our midst.
O Lord, we thank you for
your word and the invitation to live in intense communion with you, who is so
good. We are ashamed, because we have sinned, turning away from you, but bring
us back; we are ready to return to you, Lord our God. Through the Holy
Eucharist and Penance we want to intensify our relationship with you and to
become instruments of your love and mercy. Increase our faith and revive our
hope so that we may be motivated in our mission. Amen.
Fr Ndega
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