Why is it so difficult for us to accept this type of parable, when we know what the outcome is! We just do not want to really accept this parable of the prodigal son because; we see so much of ourselves in this story. We cannot handle the realization that comes with acceptance.
There have been many times in my own life where I chose to be the prodigal Son and do things the way I felt. I put myself in the character and was immediately placed on a, "what do I do now situation" when I found out that, "The grass is not always greener on the other-side."
What do we do when we are faced with this type of situation in our lives? Are we the "returning" son or are we the "so called loyal son"? Again, I have been in the position of "returning son and the loyal son." You have no good feeling when you are in either situation. If you are the returning then you are pleased that you are welcomed back into the fold. If you are the loyal son then hatred, anxiety, revenge and pure disobedience becomes the normal route to take.
But, why? Is there not an easy way out of a bad situation?
Yes and no! These are your answers.
If we are the returning person then we know about the many graces received by the Sacrament of "Reconciliation." We know that there is the tremendous feeling of relief and comfort that comes from our reception of this Sacrament and the release of guilt that can come from this experience.
On the other hand we can also relate the pain, misery, hate, fear, loneliness that comes from being the "Loyal" person. But, wait is it not our own failures that make our minds fill with these types of feelings and emotions. Is it not our own doing that causes us to be open to the works of the "Evil One." Is it not our own feeling of abandonment that makes the pain grow even larger and stronger and causes us to be more resentful than even before. Why is it that we are so blind to the real events in the Gospel story just as we are blind to the events in our own life that cause similar events?
Every adult here and every young teenager here has or will experience the feeling that they are ready to take on the world and succeed without caring about the circumstances that are awaiting them outside of their protective environment. Today we have some of the worst and most enticing things present in our lives that call to the inner-self and say; "Yes, you can do it alone and I deserve it because, I have earned my right of passage to adulthood and I do not need your help any longer! Let me be! Leave me alone! I can do it myself! I know what I am doing!
Yes, you do know what you are doing but you are suppressing the truth about what you need to accomplish your goal.
Today we see so many of our youth enter the world of adulthood with little or no direction from their parents or their friends or their Church. They are just hanging out. Why? Because it is the easy way out for everyone! No one wants to accept the responsibility of failure on their part or lose a portion of their comfort zone to help another person even if it their own family member or friend. It is so easy to just turn your face and say it is not my job let them do what they want!
But wait is this not contrary to the teachings of the "Good News"? Is this not abandoning the truth, which we profess so freely in today's world? Here again we are back to where we started. Are we blind to the truth or can we not see that there is a place for us in this situation! We can be reconciled and we can be forgiven even when we have done wrong or we need help to continue our life.
Where is the faithful one? Is he not in a place where he can see the truth and the way to Father's love? Where are the blinders coming from that causes him not to see or hear what is really happening?
In our own lives we try to make things hard for our selves because we are tempted by the "Devil" as Jesus was tempted. We are confronted with truths we do not want to accept. We are placed in situations that we do not feel is right. Why? It is mainly because of the human emotions that cause us to be sinful people. Emotions like greed, hate, fear, love, pride, material worship and freedom. These will cause us to be blind to the reality of truth!
What then do we do to overcome these human emotions?
Let us look to the "Good News" that we hear. Let us look to the wonderful Sacraments that are given to us by the Church! This is where we can find our answers and also where we can find the friends and support groups that are willing to accept who we are and also help us to be all that we can be. The Church and Society are like trying to mix water and oil together. Sometimes they will be homogeneous and at the same time they will also be so different and separate from each other. This is the message we are being taught in today's Gospel.
We cannot live with a negative attitude and expect to be accepted. We cannot hurt someone and still feel pure. We cannot be disobedient and still remain faithful. We cannot be greedy and remain sinless. We cannot be malicious and remain faithful.
We must be as the "returning son" and accept the offerings of our God and Father. We must be able to say, "I am sorry, I need your help, please forgive me, help me overcome my failures and my short comings." I know you have the way to help me and I ask you for your help.
Yes, I have been on my knees and asked God to forgive me for my inability to accept the trials that he has given me to overcome with an open heart and mind. Yes, I have been tempted to follow the "Evil One."
Wait have we forgotten what faith is?
One of the truths that make faith so difficult is that we don't have answers to many of our deepest questions. This is especially so when we have suffered loss and are plagued with asking "why?" and get only silence in return. That is when faith becomes really elusive and you learn that faith was never meant to be defined only accepted with fidelity-as is the case with any relationship. You end up saying, as I continually do, faith means accepting mystery.
Placing one's faith in Jesus is no way guarantees an insurance policy against smashed dreams or blighted expectations. The only direct statement of Jesus, which is simple enough for me to comprehend when my heart is breaking or when I'm discouraged or scared is "Follow me." I cannot understand life because life is not understandable. But I can understand "Follow me."
This is the table where we come to get the food for our spiritual life and our life to follow Jesus and all that He stands for!
(Comments to Bob at deaconrich@mindspring.com)