The parable of the lost son

Our gospel reading today is timely for it is already the season of Lent where we Christian doctrine teaches us about repentance and forgiveness and yes, this story is also familiar even to non-Christians. It is the Parable of the Lost Son which you will find it in your Bibles on Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32.

"1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to [Jesus], 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So to them [Jesus] addressed this parable. "11 A man had two sons, 12 and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.

14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 17 Coming to his senses he thought, "How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father I had sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."

20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserved to be called your son.' 22 But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.'

Then the celebration began. 25 Now the older son... became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf. 31 He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always, everything I have is yours. 32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found."

This story is also the same as the story of the Prodigal Son and while it doesn't concern the poor who has no property to subdivide among their children, it is still a good story to learn as it teaches us what forgiveness is all about, especially how God our Father is able to forgive us our sins. We must learn to reconcile with God and not entertain the idea that God ought to reconcile with us for it is us who would go to a life in eternal damnation if we do not obey the teachings of God.

Actually if you read this story carefully, you will notice that it is titled wrongly as it only says the Parable of the Lost Son. This story really teaches us that the two sons were lost in their own way. This story also teaches us about pride and humility. Here's the younger son who wanted to get away from the family circle, demanding that he gets his property even if his father was still very much alive. Not many people do this to their parents, although I knew of a few... who dared demand their share from their father... and it usually ends up in disaster.

Clearly the young man was self-centered, who cared only for himself and worked very little for the money he got as inheritance. Thus he went to a foreign country and squandered his money. Soon, like most of us also belatedly realize, he not only loses his money, he also lose those friends of his who only befriended him because he had money to spend for them. When famine struck the land where he stayed, he ended up, cold and hungry and in remorse for the grievous thing he had done... realizing the he no longer deserved even to be called the son of his father.

Swallowing his pride and knowing that even if his father treated him as one of his servants, he would still be better off, he set forth to return to his homeland. When his father saw him from afar, he ran to greet his son and embraced and kissed him. Just think... the father didn't even know whether this son would ask for his forgiveness or not... but he was already there for him. But while the father forgave and restored his son, it was the older brother who was bitter that the father still forgave this prodigal son.

Again, our Lord Jesus Christ teaches that we should forgive without any conditions. This is why in the confessional; the priest forgives our most evil or grievous sins with a simple, one Our Father and two Hail Mary's. Such is God's forgiveness to us his children because after we are restored in the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are again called the Sons of God.

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