Word to the Wise
Thursday, November 5, 2020 - Thursday in the 31th Week in Ordinary Time
[Phil 3:3-8a and Luke 15:1-10]The 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]
The scenario in today's gospel scripture in which Jesus is criticised by religious authorities because he preached to and dined with persons who were considered unclean by the standards of Mosaic Law results in three parables, the third of which will be the parable of the Prodigal Son. The latter will not appear at this point in this liturgical cycle but should be read as the culmination of the first two. Why is this important?
The emphasis in all three parables - shepherd seeking the lost sheep, housewife seeking the lost coin, parent welcoming back the two "lost" offspring - is on God continuing to seek out those who are "lost." The first two parables focus on finding a lost "asset." The third focuses on finding a lost "love." The third parable, the Prodigal Son, goes further than the first two because it is not just the "finding" that is important, there is the mercy that follows. Any parent who has lost a child in a crowd (cf. Luke 2:48, "Son, why have you done this to us?") knows the relief of finding, but then must deal with the anger v. mercy issue!
Ultimately, the reason for the search is mercy. We can be assured that none of us is "God-forsaken" unless we want to be, and no authority on earth can keep God from reaching out or searching for us. The challenge to the "found" is to remember that they were once "lost" and show the same mercy they have received. AMEN