Word to the Wise
Saturday, February 27, 2016 - 2nd Week of Lent - Sat
[Mic 7:14-15, 18-20 and Luke 15:1-3, 11-32]SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016 SATURDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 and Luke 15:1-3, 11-32] Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." [Luke] We owe a debt of thanks to the tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees and scribes. If it weren't for them, we would not have the wonderful parable of the "Prodigal Son." Another title for it might be the "Merciful Father," or the "Unforgiving Brother." Much will depend on our own experience. In the case of the scribes and Pharisees, it is an inability to understand mercy at all. They would begrudge the prodigal son the mercy of his father. There's no question that the "sin" of the prodigal son is a serious one. All the more, then, to the scribes and Pharisees, to withhold mercy and indeed treat the returning son as a slave. They are clearly the "unforgiving Brother." They negate any good they might have done in their faithfulness to the Mosaic Law by their refusal to welcome back the sinners and tax collectors. The conduct of the Father is what should draw our attention. He doesn't stand on the porch with his arms folded and foot tapping. He sees the returning son from afar and runs out to meet him. He does the same for the older brother too! He goes out to meet him when the older brother refuses to come to the welcome back party. Who are we in this parable? Are we the Prodigal Son, the Unforgiving Older Brother, or the Merciful Father? It might be helpful to try on each role and see how we feel. What is certain, however, is Jesus' description of his own Father of Mercy, and we can be eternally grateful for that. AMEN
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