4TH SUNDAY OF LENT C
TWO SONS
At the final defeat of the ISIS
group in Syria, many of its foreign supporters started petitioning their governments
to receive them back into their home countries. These were men, women and youth
who left family, jobs, or studies to fight or live alongside the terrorists.
Now captured or living as refugees, they say they want to go home and start
life all over again.
Some countries cautiously welcomed
back their citizens bringing them to court and to prison. Other countries
refused the returnees, even depriving one petitioner of her citizenship. The
people in these countries were enraged at the returnees’ betrayal, afraid of
terroristic threats and doubtful of the returnees’ motives. But the families of
the returnees have a different view. They are asking their governments to
receive their wayward children, in spite of the pain they felt at their
departure and support for ISIS. As passionate as some people are against the
returnees, more intensely do their families long to see, embrace and forgive
them.
Today we reflect on probably the most
beautiful parable of the Lord Jesus Christ. Known as the parable of the
prodigal son, Pope Benedict XVI insists that it is better called the parable of
the two sons. Of course, the real center of the story is the unparalleled love
of the Father for both his sons, the notorious rebel, the younger, and the
hidden rebel, the elder.
We know the complete story of the
Father, who after feeling betrayed and abandoned, was willing to forgive,
receive and restore his younger son. He was also willing to invite his older
son to open his heart to his returning brother. We also know the complete story
of the prodigal, who upon realizing his mistake, boldly confessed his sin
before his Father and received lavish love and mercy.
But Jesus did not complete the
story of the older son. He never left home although most probably he too,
wanted to have his independence. He stayed close to the Father and yet did not
get to imitate the Father’s heart. In seeing his younger brother “raised from
the dead” he felt not joy but resentment. Did he finally listen to his Father’s
explanation? Did he enter the feast to welcome back his brother? Did he rejoice
in seeing his family complete again?
Jesus did not complete his story
because this older brother’s story continues in our own lives. Most of us are
ordinary Christians, not rebels, but just trying to live according to what is
right. But when we see people who do wrong and people who realize their mistake
and want to reform, are we willing to follow the lead of our merciful Father? It
is easier to condemn, to protest, to distance ourselves and to close our
hearts. This is how most of us feel with regard to people who are classified as
scum of society, disgrace of our families, and disappointments within our
circles of relationships.
This Lent, let us look deep into
our hearts and complete the story of the older son because it is the story of
our own attitude towards God and our neighbor.
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