The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a favorite to many. Much of our focus is on the brothers and their different approaches to their relationship with their father. What struck me this time was the fact that the father goes out to meet both of the brothers for very different reasons.
The father running to the younger son feels quite dramatic. The son who literally took the money and ran (away), who has been gone and out of touch for an extended period of time, returns empty-handed, ready to beg for mercy and forgiveness.
If you’ve ever been excited to see a family member or friend after an extended time away and ran towards them for a hug, you know the energy that transfers into a strong hug. Now imagine this happening to you when you expect to be met with resistance and unforgiveness.
The younger son, now humbled by his worldly experience, doesn’t feel worthy of the hug. He comes bearing apologies and shame, but the father won’t let him try to belittle himself anymore. The father closes the door on the past by letting his son know: the old life is forgotten; welcome home where you belong. The father goes on to call for a celebration.
God the Father runs to the sinner who leaves their old life behind and walks toward home, toward the Church. Sometimes those with major conversion experiences can seem like they advance so much more quickly than those of us who have remained close to home, but the truth is in God’s mercy. He doesn’t want doubt to overcome the sinner so He runs out to meet him and walk with him the remainder of the way home, speaking to him of his identity as his son.
The older son has an adverse reaction to this welcome. He stays outside, refusing to go into the celebration, feeling that he has been slighted. The father realizes his older son is missing and comes out to search for him. When he finds him he is met with questions and frustration so he also speaks into the older son’s identity as son: “everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31) He reminds him All that matters is that both are now with him. For the father there is no measuring between one son and another. He explains to the older son that the celebration is not about the volume of work produced (or not), but instead is about the conversion of heart – that his brother is no longer dead, but alive.
God wants nothing more than all of us to live life with Him. Therefore He comes out to meet us when we have sinned and are seeking mercy. He meets us in our stubbornness and indignation and reminds us of who He has called us to be: brothers and sisters in Christ – not in competition with one another, but instead in companionship with one another.
La parábola del hijo pródigo es una de las favoritas de muchas personas. Gran parte de nuestra atención se centra en los hermanos y las formas diferentes en que se relacionan con su padre. Lo que me llamó la atención esta vez fue el hecho de que el padre sale a recibir a ambos hermanos por razones muy distintas.
El padre que corre hacia el hijo menor parece bastante dramático. El hijo que literalmente tomó el dinero y huyó, que ha estado fuera y sin contacto durante un período prolongado, regresa con las manos vacías, listo para pedir misericordia y perdón.
Si alguna vez te has emocionado al ver a un familiar o amigo después de un largo tiempo y te has corrido hacia él para abrazarlo, sabes la energía que se convierte en un fuerte abrazo. Ahora imagina que esto te sucede cuando esperas encontrarte con resistencia y falta de perdón.
El hijo menor, ahora humillado por su experiencia mundana, no se siente digno del abrazo. Viene con disculpas y vergüenza, pero el padre no le permite intentar a menospreciarse más. El padre cierra la puerta al pasado haciéndole saber a su hijo: tu vida anterior se ha quedado en el pasado; bienvenido a casa, donde perteneces. El padre continúa convocando una celebración.
Dios Padre corre hacia el pecador que deja atrás su vida anterior y camina hacia su hogar, hacia la Iglesia. A veces, puede parecer que los que han tenido experiencias fuertes de conversión avancen mucho más rápido que los que hemos permanecido cerca de la casa, pero la verdad está en la misericordia de Dios. No quiere que la duda se apodere del pecador, así que corre a su encuentro y camina con él el resto del camino a casa, hablándole de su identidad como hijo suyo.
El hijo mayor tiene una reacción adversa a esta bienvenida. Se queda afuera, negándose a entrar en la celebración, sintiéndose despreciado. El padre se da cuenta de que su hijo mayor ha desaparecido y sale a buscarlo. Cuando lo encuentra, se enfrenta con preguntas y frustración, por lo que también le habla al hijo mayor de su identidad como hijo suyo: “todo lo mío es tuyo” (Lucas 15,31). Le recuerda que lo único que importa es que ahora ambos están con él. Para el padre no hay medida entre un hijo y otro. Le explica al hijo mayor que la celebración no se trata del volumen de trabajo producido (o no), sino de la conversión del corazón: que su hermano ya no está muerto, sino vivo.
Lo que Dios más quiere es que todos vivamos la vida con Él. Por eso, sale a nuestro encuentro cuando hemos pecado y buscamos misericordia. Nos encuentra en nuestra terquedad e indignación y nos recuerda quiénes nos ha llamado a ser: hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, no en competencia unos con otros, sino en compañerismo unos con otros.
Nicole Berlucchi is a faith and family blogger (www.nicoleberlucchi.com) and Catholic blog contributor. She has worked in a number of roles in the nonprofit world, but helping people realize their vision and make an impact, seems to be her sweet spot. Nicole owns Coley B. Creative, LLC, a marketing company providing support to small businesses. She is also the author Magnify Love: Unlocking the Heart of Jesus in Your Marriage and Your Life. A native of Philadelphia, she now resides in the Nashville area with her husband, Joe, and their four children. She’s a big fan of brilliant skies, salted caramel with chocolate, books and more books. She loves sharing her journey with Jesus so that others might: Come and see.
Feature Image Credit: Karl Emanuel Jansson, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-10368/
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