The Parable of the Merciful Father

31/03/20198:47 SA(Xem: 1975)
The Parable of the Merciful Father

The Parable of the Merciful Father

On the Readings for March 31, 2019, the Fourth Sunday of Lent

Detail from "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (1669) by Rembrandt [WikiArt.org]

Readings
• Jos 5:9a, 10-12
• Psa 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
• 2 Cor 5:17-21
• Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

The parable of the prodigal son is, along with the parable of the good Samaritan, the best-known of Jesus’ many parables. The poignancy of the parable is impossible to miss, and the three main characters are incredibly vivid considering the relative brevity of the story. The parable is “perhaps the most moving of the parables Jesus tells in the gospels,” wrote Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar, “The experiences and life of the two sons serve solely to reveal the heart of the father.”

It’s an important point, for we often think the focus is on the youngest son. But the parable is primarily about the astounding mercy and love of the father. “Nowhere else,” remarked von Balthasar, “does Jesus portray the Father in heaven more vitally, more plainly.” This is indicated right from the start, by the father’s reaction to the younger son’s request. We are, unfortunately, so used to stories—often romanticized and idealized—about rebellious youth leaving home to pursue fame and fortune that we miss the seriousness of the son’s demand. His request was outrageous; it was unheard of for sons to do such a thing in the ancient world. Demanding his share of the inheritance (probably a third, with two-thirds going to his brother) was another way of saying, “I wish you were already dead!” So serious was the disrespect shown, the father likely had grounds, under the Mosaic Law, of pursuing severe, even deadly, punishment (cf. Dt 21:18-21).

In light of that, what would most of Jesus’ listeners initially think of the father? Chances are, they viewed him as either stupid or weak, a complete failure. Certainly the Pharisees and scribes (Lk 15:2) would have thought so, as they considered themselves the keepers and defenders of the Law. Of course, one point of the parable was to show how they had, in many ways, either missed or ignored the long-suffering mercy of God and the true nature of the Law.

St. Peter Chrysologus, like so many of the early Church fathers, understood the two sons to represent the Jews and the Gentiles. “Prudent knowledge of the law made the Jewish people [the father’s] older son, and the folly of paganism made the Gentile world his younger son.”

When Jesus described how the younger son was reduced to the pathetic state of working with swine—a nice touch for the Jewish audience—many of his listeners would have thought, “Of course! The son comes to ruin. End of story.” But the real drama was just beginning, for the parable was not just a morality tale, but a revelation of mercy. This is not to overlook the significance of the younger son’s recognition of his sorry, sinful state. He represents each of us at that point when we realize we have left the will and the love of the Father, seeking to live without regard for his loving commands.

The son is a reminder, especially during the season of Lent, that we need the sacrament of Confession in order to be fully restored to life in the family of God, the Church.

But the parable is finally about the father, who represents our heavenly Father. He does not upbraid the younger brother; he does not chide the older brother for his selfishness and lack of charity. Instead, he runs to embrace the prodigal son. “When you are still far away, he sees you and runs to you,” wrote St. Ambrose, “He sees in your heart. He runs, perhaps someone may hinder, and he embraces you. His foreknowledge is in the running, his mercy in the embrace and the disposition of fatherly love.” What must have truly astounded those listening to the parable was how the father—contrary to logic and the Law—not only embraced and kissed his son, he clothed him in his own robe and restored him to full sonship by putting his signet ring on his finger.

God offers life and love to every wayward soul; he runs to embrace the returning sinner.

(This “Opening the Word” column originally appeared in the March 10, 2013, edition of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)


About Carl E. Olson  1104 Articles
Carl E. Olson is editor of Catholic World Report and Ignatius Insight. He is the author of Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?Will Catholics Be "Left Behind", co-editor/contributor to Called To Be the Children of God, co-author of The Da Vinci Hoax (Ignatius), and author of the "Catholicism" and "Priest Prophet King" Study Guides for Word on Fire. He is also a contributor to "Our Sunday Visitor" newspaper, "The Catholic Answer" magazine, "The Catholic Herald", "National Catholic Register", "Chronicles", and other publications.
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