Fathers Love

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."  3 So he told them this parable: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; 12 and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 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.' 22 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; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. 25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" LK 15:1-3, 11-32

Reflection: When two people fall in love with each other, they then seek to know and find at any cost what will gladden each ones heart. They leave no stone unturned to make each other happy.

Such is the power of human love, that it finds joy in the goodness of the others and will be sad at the pain, suffering and trials of the other. 

It can sometime make the other suffer more than the sufferer themselves and this is the most profound truth about the power of love.

Poets and writers have eulogized about this love and written volumes about it. There have been classics written, movies made and some have been historically recorded, immortalized, even with monuments built.

How great is the sacrifice made in order to accomplish things for a greater love, that people have even given up on their petty little loves in order to, in all celibacy, be focused on their one love.

Similarly, we see in the parable of the prodigal son, the great love of the Father, who waits day in and day out for his son to return.  As he waits there must have been the many pangs of pain and agony that the Father may be going through. 

He carries a hope that not all is lost and a confidence that his son will return. Such confidence is not possible if he had not loved his son much and had not treated his son and servants well. 

Can it possible that anyone who treats his servants well could possibly ill treat his children?

Did the son never recognize the love of the father? No, in fact the son may have acknowledged the love of the father, but may have taken it for granted.

But more than that he carried a special love for himself and his needs and thus had become self centered and selfish. He wanted to care for his many wants and this superseded the love he may have had or experienced from his father. 

Thus he had to go, taking advantage of the unconditional, eternal love of the father in order to care for himself and his wants but not for long before he realizes that the fathers love is still worth it, even if it means being his servant.

Prayer: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. (vs. 21) – let’s adapt this prayer and make it our own, to our heavenly Father this lent.

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