Dear Fathers,Brothers,Sisters in Christ
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the more familiar parables of the New Testament. We can easily identify with the lost son as all of us have sinned at some time. One could also spend some time placing themselves in the role of the father and/or the brother. A parent yearns to have their child return to them with a clean heart.
This parable has a "happy ending," but it's often true in day-to-day life that it doesn't always progress that well. This parable story gives us an opportunity, especially today, to pray about this. There are many parents trying to discern how much they should help their child in tangible ways or whether it is time for "tough love" to encourage their child to act on their own behalf.
There is also the question of forgiveness, that is, how many times should they forgive bad behavior, sometimes at the expense of the rest of the family? That is, when is enough, enough? How much time should be spent on the erring child, at the expense of the others? These are but a few of the real-life challenges.
In closing, let us keep the main message of the parable close in our heart, that is, that God is always ready to forgive us when we turn to Him with a converted heart.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia
