Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius
April 24, 2015
Spiritual Ponderings
Prodigal Son

For the month of April as we transition from Lent into Easter, I would like to reflect with you on the insights of the parable of the Prodigal Son as shared with us through Fr. Nouwen’s Book: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming and Rembrandt’s painting The Prodigal Son. Quotes from Nouwen’s book will be in bold and my commentary will be in regular font.

When she visited me in my “hermitage” and spoke with me about the Prodigal Son, she said, “Whether you are the younger son or the elder son, you have to realize that you are called to become the father.”
While we might find comfort in identifying ourselves with the oldest son or the youngest son, we are all called and challenged to be the loving Father. This is what Catholics mean when we talk about the Universal call to holiness. We are all called to love like God loves.

While the father is truly filled with joy at his younger son’s return, he has not forgotten the elder. He doesn’t take his elder son for granted. His joy was so intense that he couldn’t wait to start celebrating, but as soon as he became aware of his elder’s son arrival, he left the party, went out to him, and pleaded with him to join them.
From time to time it is important for us to check in with ourselves to make sure that we are not neglecting anyone important in our life because of the noise someone else is making. Even when we are right are we willing to leave the celebration to comfort those who are angry with us?

It might sound strange, but God wants to find me as much as, if not more than, I want to find God. Yes, God needs me as much as I need God. God is not the patriarch who stays whom, doesn’t move, and expects his children to come to him, apologize for their aberrant behavior, he leaves the house ignoring his dignity by running toward them, pays no heed to apologies and promises of change, and brings them to the table richly prepared for them.
Yes God desires you, wants you, chooses you—and all of you.

The same God who suffers because of his immense love for his children is the God who is rich in goodness and mercy and who desires to reveal to his children the richness of his glory. The father does not even give his son a chance to apologize. He pre-empts his son’s begging by spontaneous forgiveness and puts aside his pleas as completely irrelevant in the light of the joy at his return. But there is more. Not only does the father forgive without asking questions and joyfully welcomes his lost son home, but he cannot wait to give him the new life, life in abundance. So strongly does God desire to give life to his rupturing son that he seems almost impatient. Nothing is good enough. The very best must be given to him. While the son is prepared to be treated as a hired servant, the father calls for the robe reserved for a distinguished guest; and, although the son no longer feels worthy to be called son, the father gives him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet to honor him as his beloved son and restore him as his heir. -
Let God love you. Remember you got into trouble the first time because you ran away from God.

But God rejoices when one repentant sinner returns. Statistically that is not very interesting. But for God, numbers never seem to matter.
God does not love us because it makes sense. He loves us because He loves us. He doesn’t care if the press is watching or if he will look like a fool. He loves us.

For me it is amazing to experience daily the radical difference between cynicism and joy. Cynics seek darkness wherever they go. They point always to approaching dangers, impure motives, and hidden schemes. They call trust naïve, care romantic, and forgiveness sentimental. They sneer at enthusiasm, ridicule spiritual fervor, and despise charismatic behavior. They consider themselves realist who see reality for what it truly is and who are not deceived by “escapist emotions.” But in belittling God’s joy, their darkness calls forth more darkness.
People who have come to know the joy of God do not deny darkness, but they choose not to live in it. They claim that the light that shines in the darkness can be trusted more than the darkness itself and that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. They point each other to flashes of light here and there, and remind each other that they reveal the hidden but real presence of God. They discover that here are people who heal each other’s wounds, forgive each other’s offenses, share their possessions, foster the spirit of community, celebrate the gifts they have received, and live in constant anticipation of the full manifestation of God’s glory.