The Return of the Prodigal Son
Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art]
Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,)
Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)
Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Gospel Luke 15:1-3, 11- 32 (English Standard Version, Anglicised)
At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’
So he told them this parable: ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
‘But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ ”
‘And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his older
son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music
and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things
meant. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed
the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.” But he was
angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he
answered his father, “Look, these many years I have served you, and I never
disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might
celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured
your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!” And he
said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It
was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is
alive; he was lost, and is found.” ’
The Return
of the Prodigal Son (detail)About ten years ago while
still in the Philippines I met a woman from a Western country who told me that
the first lie her parents told her was that Santa Claus existed. Had I been
alert enough at the time I would have asked her, So Jesus lied to us
about the Prodigal Son, about the Good Samaritan? They never 'existed'.
As Pope Benedict XVI said in his
Angelus Talk on today's gospel on 14 March 20: This
passage of St Luke constitutes one of the peaks of spirituality and literature
of all time. Indeed, what would our culture, art and more generally our
civilization be without this revelation of a God the Father so full of mercy?
We would never have had Rembrandt's powerful and deeply moving
painting above.
Here is the full text of Pope Bendict's talk that day with
my emphases added. (I find it difficult to add emphases to
anything by Pope Benedict since I find his talks so deep, so clear and
so uplifting.)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We now know God; he is our Father who out of love created us to be free and
endowed us with a conscience, who suffers when we get lost and rejoices when we
return. For this reason, our relationship with him is built up through
events, just as it happens for every child with his parents: at first he
depends on them, then he asserts his autonomy; and, in the end if he develops
well he reaches a mature relationship based on gratitude and authentic love.
In these stages we can also identify moments
along man's journey in his relationship with God. There can be a phase that
resembles childhood: religion prompted by need, by dependence. As man grows up
and becomes emancipated, he wants to liberate himself from this submission and
become free and adult, able to organize himself and make his own decisions,
even thinking he can do without God. Precisely this stage is delicate and can
lead to atheism, yet even this frequently conceals the need to discover God's true
Face. Fortunately for us, God never fails in his faithfulness and
even if we distance ourselves and get lost he continues to follow us with his
love, forgiving our errors and speaking to our conscience from within in order
to call us back to him.
Some thoughts of my own
Traditional Latin Mass
Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 03-30-2025 if necessary).
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