Twenty-fourth Sunday of the Year, C – September 11, 2016.
Readings: Ex. 32:7-11, 13-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 12-13,17&19(R.cf.Luke15:18); 1 Tim 1-12-17; Gospel Lk 15:1-32.
Theme: The Scandal of Working for Reward and a Call to Repentance
Beloved in Christ, the parable of the prodigal son once again calls us to reflect on God’s mercy and forgiveness while soft-pedaling on working only for reward. Our reflections on this parable have customarily being surrounded around the sin of the younger son. Conversely, I would like us to look critically at the scandal of the eldest son. A survey of his attitude reveals the following:
1. Instead of going into to house to get first hand information about what was going on, he resorted to getting his news from the grapevine – a gossip that would later trigger anger in him.
2. For allowing what was supposed to be good news, the safe return of his kid brother, to become bad news, he became a victim.
3. His anger and refusal to go in was a huge scandal – a time-bomb waiting to explode.
4. This bad attitude interrupted the party in honour of his brother which made his father to come out of the house.
5. His refusal to be placated despite his father’s plea constituted a sin against the fourth commandment – Honour your Father and your mother.
6. His words to their father namely “Behold, these many years I have slaved for you…” indicates that he was obeying his father simply out of duty and not out of love.
7. His demand for reward as exemplified in the words “…yet you never gave me a kid to celebrate with my friends” shows that the elder brother was only working for reward.
8. His presumption that the younger brother spent his money on harlots and should be condemned placed him as self-righteous person.
To put the reflection in perspective, we must understand that Jesus was directing the parable to the Pharisees who criticized him for eating with sinners. The two parables of the lost sheep and lost coin further illustrate God’s love for us prodigal children – he goes after that which was lost.
In practical terms, if your sheep is sick, you give more care to the ailing animal than the other ones which are healthy. In the same vein, when you misplace your money, you don’t say “since I have other monies, I won’t look for the lost money.” That is why “there is more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous men who need no repentance.”
Like the Pharisees, we often judge and condemn others. We might be surprised at the end of time that they would be the ones controlling traffic in heaven. Little wonder Jesus told the Jews that at the end of time, Gentiles would judge the 12 tribes of Israel. By embracing sinners, he wanted the Jews to understand that he has come to demonstrate the father’s love.
It will be recalled that Bishop Patrick Terence Drainey of the diocese of Middlesbrough in the United Kingdom exhorted Christians about the beautiful parable of God's love and mercy while delivering his homily about the prodigal son at the just concluded World Youth Day which held in Poland.
According to him, "Only Mercy can save Mankind from the Cancer of Sin." He also noted that "the parable is really about the extravagant, spend drift father who is profligate in love, mercy and forgiveness."
He continued: "The father was on the lookout for his son. Waiting, looking for him and continually searching.
Bishop Terence reminded the pilgrims that the parable of God's generous love and compassion is a call "to turn back so that he can restore our lost place in the family."
He urged the pilgrims to beware of anger, resentment, self-pity, self-righteousness and jealousy like the eldest son noting that God loves us and wants to share everything with us.
"Take to the sacrament for reconciliation. Like Pope Francis would say, 'the joy of God is the joy of forgiveness' - it is the joy of the father who welcomes the lost son and the woman who lost her coin" said he.
The gospels connects with the first reading (Ex. 32:7-11, 13-14) wherein God repents to do evil on the sons and daughters of Israel because Moses pleaded on their behalf. The gist of the readings is, God is merciful and wants us to use the sacrament of reconciliation to return to him.
Saint Paul tells Timothy in the second reading (1 Tim 1-12-17) that God was merciful to him by considering him worthy despite the fact that he persecuted the Church. The prodigal son was deeply sorry for his error that was why he rehearsed his confession before going back home. A sincere penance from a contrite heart is capable of pulling the heaven.
Have a blessed week ahead!
Beautiful Homily. May He the owner of the vineyard continue to endow you with more wisdom and keep watch over you as work for Him.
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