We are all familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son. There is a risk whenever we hear this Parable proclaimed, or any other well-known Parable, that we stop listening closely as soon as we recognize the passage. So I have a test question: At what moment was the younger son forgiven by the Father? Was it when he made the decision to return to his father’s house? Or was it when the Father embraced the son and kissed him? Or was it when the son addressed the Father?
The son thought of returning to his Father’s house not because he was contrite, but because he was hungry – the passage states this explicitly. He rehearsed what he would say to his Father, “I have sinned against heaven and against you,” which interestingly enough are the same words Pharaoh used when he allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt after the last plague. Pharaoh was not repentant because then he sent his army after the Israelites. Jesus makes it clear that this young man is not really sorry; he is like the unrepentant pharaoh. The son wanted to present a proposal to the Father as to how their relationship would be restored, “I no longer deserve to be called your son, treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” The son thinks he can reinstate the broken relationship by himself by paying off the debt to his Father.
The young man was still a long way off and his Father saw him. This shows that the Father had not given up, he was still waiting for him to return. Before the son says anything, the Father runs toward him, embraces him and kisses him. The mere presence of the son is enough for the Father to put everything behind.
Finally the son addresses the Father, but have you ever noticed that he does not get to finish his rehearsed words? He is interrupted by the Father saying to the servants to put on the finest robe on him, to put a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet, and to slaughter the fattened calf. The Father does not really care what the son has to say. On his own accord, he is able to restore the relationship.
So, when is the son forgiven? At the moment that he enters the gaze of the loving Father; when the Father sees him from a long way off.
It is the Father who dresses him, puts fine shoes, and a ring on the son.
It is the Father who puts on a celebration, not for the son, but to celebrate the mercy he has shown.
This is the same Father who waits for us to enter into His gaze so that we too may be forgiven. During Lent we turn to the Father as sons and daughters in need of reconciliation, trusting that the fire of His presence is what purifies us and gives us a new chance to get things right with Him. May Lent not come to an end without an experience of the loving Father’s gaze!
Picture from the Public Domain.
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