“And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided his goods between them. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had consumed all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the pods that the swine did eat: and no man gave him any. And when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and here I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight; I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. And while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion; and he ran, and embraced him, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight; I am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said unto his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; and bring the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to rejoice. (Luke 15:11-24)

 

 

Daily Liturgy and Gospel of the Day

 

Reflection:

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus’ most well-known and profound parables, found in Luke 15:11-24. It speaks of God’s immense love, infinite mercy, and the joy of forgiveness. Through this story, Jesus reveals God’s nature as a loving father, always ready to forgive those who repent and return to Him. The parable also challenges us to reflect on our own lives, how we approach repentance and forgiveness, and how we can live in relation to God’s love, whether as the son who strays or as the one who joyfully welcomes the return of the lost one.

This parable is an invitation to reflect on the human condition and divine action. The story of the prodigal son touches on universal issues such as the search for identity, dissatisfaction, mistakes made and the search for forgiveness. The father’s reaction upon seeing his son return home reveals an unconditional love, willing to restore and welcome his son back, regardless of his mistakes. At the same time, the older brother’s reaction challenges us to examine our own hearts, questioning ourselves about the true nature of forgiveness and grace.

 

 

The Youngest Son's Request: The Search for Autonomy

The story begins with the youngest son asking for his share of the inheritance ahead of time. This gesture is highly symbolic. In many cultures, asking for the inheritance before the father's death was considered a great insult. It was as if the son was wishing for his father's death, and by asking for the assets, he expressed his desire to separate from the family and live independently.

This request reflects an attitude that is common to many of us: the search for autonomy and freedom, the idea that we can live our lives on our own, without the intervention of others, especially our parents. However, what the son did not know was that, by seeking this freedom, he was moving away from the true source of security and love, which was his family. He sought happiness and freedom in material goods, without realizing that they could not fully satisfy him.

Thus, the first lesson of the parable is about our own choices in life. Too often, we seek independence and immediate gratification without considering the long-term consequences. The son’s desire to leave, to live by his own rules, reflects this common search for unlimited freedom. From the moment we stray from God’s love and wisdom, we run the risk of falling into deception and difficulties.

 

 

The Dissolute Life and the Consequence of Sin

The second part of the parable describes the life of the younger son in the far country. He spends all his inheritance living dissolutely, without concern for the future, only seeking immediate pleasures. This behavior is a clear illustration of the nature of sin and the consequences of turning away from God’s will.

Sin often lures us with promises of temporary satisfaction and pleasure. Like the prodigal son, we are led astray by the illusion that happiness lies in things that ultimately leave us empty. Money and worldly pleasures may seem rewarding for a time, but they cannot fill the deep emptiness that exists in our hearts. When the son sees that his inheritance has been completely spent and that he is in a state of despair, he experiences the bitter reality of the choices he has made.

At this point in the story, the son finds himself in a humiliating situation: he finds himself feeding pigs, something that would have been unthinkable for a Jew at the time. This represents rock bottom, the moment when bad choices lead a person to a state of misery. Sin leads us to places of despair, and it is only when we hit rock bottom that we can begin to realize the gravity of our actions.

 

 

Repentance: The Way Back Home

In the midst of his misery, the prodigal son “comes to his senses” and realizes that he is far from home and the security he once had. He recognizes that his sin was not only against his father, but against heaven, that is, against God. This moment of reflection and repentance is the turning point in the story. Repentance is one of the central themes of this parable and teaches us that no matter how far we have gone or how many mistakes we have made, there is always a way back.

The word “repentance” comes from the Greek “metanoia,” which means a change of mind, a change of direction. The son not only feels bad about his actions, but he decides to do something about it: he decides to go back to his father and ask for forgiveness. Repentance, then, is a movement of the heart and mind toward God, acknowledging our dependence on Him and our need for forgiveness.

This act of returning to the Father is an attitude that we all need to adopt toward God. When we have strayed from God, whether through wrong choices or neglect, the first thing we need to do is “come to our senses,” recognize the sin in our lives, and decide to return to Him. The parable teaches us that no matter how far we have strayed, we can always return to the Father’s house.

 

 

The Father's Unconditional Love: Forgiveness That Restores

When the son returns, what happens is surprising. The father, seeing him from afar, runs to him, hugs him and kisses him, without asking for an explanation. He does not wait for his son to justify himself, but, moved by compassion, welcomes him back with open arms. This gesture by the father is an illustration of God's unconditional love. The father does not hesitate to forgive his son, regardless of the mistakes he has made.

This reveals to us the nature of God’s forgiveness. When we return to Him in sincere repentance, God receives us with love and compassion, ready to restore us. God’s forgiveness is not conditional on what we have done or failed to do, but is an act of grace, where He chooses to forgive and restore us in His presence. The Father not only forgives, but also prepares a great feast to celebrate the return of His lost son. This celebration symbolizes the joy in heaven when a sinner repents and returns to God.

 

 

The Eldest Son's Response: The Challenge of Forgiveness and Grace

At the end of the parable, the older son, who has always been with his father and obeyed his commandments, is angered to see his younger brother, who has squandered his inheritance, being received with such honor and joy. He cannot understand why his father treats him so generously. The older brother represents those who have difficulty accepting God’s grace for those who have done wrong, especially when they seem undeserving of forgiveness.

The older son’s attitude challenges us to reflect on how we deal with God’s grace. Do we, like him, feel indignant when we see God forgiving others, especially those we consider “less worthy”? God’s grace is abundant and does not discriminate against people. All of us, regardless of our shortcomings, are invited to participate in the feast of God’s restoration and mercy.

 

 

Conclusion: The Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Love of God

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a powerful message of repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. It reveals the depth of God’s love for us and the way He welcomes us back, even when we have turned away from Him. The story challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes toward repentance, grace, and forgiveness, both as we seek God’s forgiveness and as we offer it to others.

God is like the father in the parable, always willing to forgive and restore those who return to Him with a repentant heart. He not only forgives, but celebrates our return home. Like the prodigal son, we can always return to the Father’s house, for He awaits us with open arms, ready to embrace, forgive, and restore us. May we respond to God’s invitation and return to Him, trusting in His unconditional love and His ability to transform and restore us.