24th
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
1 Timothy
Luke 15:1-32 (or 15:1-10)
"I tell you…there will
be more joy
in heaven over one repentant sinner…”
Our gospel this Sunday consists of three parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and the most celebrated among all New Testament parables, The Prodigal Son. Even the gospel structure itself reveals that these parables are meant for sinners, "the lost sons of God." But as they show how the ugly face of sin destroys the image of man, these parables too show more importantly the beauty of repentance and divine forgiveness. Indeed, there is really more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner! Let us, then, meditate on the gospel message along these points.
1. The first point the gospel wants us to reflect on is the reality of sin. The gospel introduces itself with the scenario wherein Jesus mingles himself with sinners in the presence of the Pharisees. Note, in biblical literature, both groups are considered sinners. By this scenario, therefore, the gospel suggests two basic concepts of sin.
a. The common understanding we have about sin is extravagance and abuse. Thus, a sinner is most likely a vagabond or an abuser. Both scripture and experience confirm this concept. As the Jews in the bible ostracize the tax collectors and those who do not observe the Law, we also do condemn the notorious ones in our society: the lawbreakers the corrupt, the influential and powerful who master the weak and the powerless, etc. And as the gospel shows how extravagance has ruined the younger son's life, our very own eyes too see how sons of the rich squander their parents' wealth by spending so many years in school but only to end up "bachelors of women."
b. But over and above
extravagance and abuse, a subtle yet a graver type of sin is being told by the
gospel. This is the sin of
self-righteousness. Ironically, this sin of self-righteousness is
personified by the Pharisees and the scribes, and those who are supposed to be
the experts and observers of the Law. And as the gospel would suggest, self-righteousness
seems to be worse than extravagance. Perhaps, the overwhelming reason for this
is the sad fact that whereas both are sinners, the extravagant are usually the condemned
sinners while the self-righteous are the condemning ones. This is
probably why Jesus is constantly friendly the condemned while being
always inimical to the condemning.
These two concepts seem to be reinforced in the parable of the prodigal son. Extravagance and abuse are clearly the sins personified by the younger brother, while self-righteousness seems to be personified by elder brother. So, while we have to admire the obedience and faithfulness of the elder brother to his father, we also wonder if this elder brother was really able to forgive his brother and finally entered the hall. Certainly, Jesus left this part of the parable unanswered for his listeners to think and realize that not only the condemned sinners and the prodigal sons need repentance, but also and mostly the condemning ones who falsely think that they don't need to repent at all.
2. Repentance is,
therefore, the second important lesson of the gospel. And just as the gospel
teaches us what sin is, it also teaches us what it means to be truly repentant.
The prodigal son stands as the gospel's image of a repentant sinner. And as the
gospel suggests, true repentance requires three important elements. Pay
attention to this part of the parable: “Then
he came to his senses and said,’…I will leave this place and go to
my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I
no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid
servants.’”
a. The first element is realization. By realization we mean a conscious recognition of one's fault. It is coming to one's senses. It is an act of the mind. It is a pre-meditation accompanied by a deep-seated sorrow so that what he would be doing in front of his father would not simply be an actor's performance, but one which is honest and true.
b. The second is resolution. By resolution we mean a contrite resolve to amend one's ways. It is an act of the will characterized by a strong determination to go back to the father, and not insisting on one's crooked ways. It is the father whom he sinned; to him must he return and beg for pardon.
c. The third is humiliation. By humiliation we mean a humble acceptance of a just penalty. It is one's readiness to be treated as a paid servant. It is an act of self-denial. It is metanoia: a change of heart, a change of oneself. It is a decision to change one's status from sonship to servanthood.
3. But what will repentance be without mercy? This is then the third
important message of the gospel. In fact, mercy - in the context of love and
forgiveness - is the overwhelming theme of the three parables. The good
shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the lost one. The woman lights a
lamp and diligently sweeps the house just to find her lost coin. Both because
of mercy and love. But the most touching of all is the father's reaction upon
seeing his returning son. As the gospel puts it: "While he (the son)
was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him
tenderly.”
We hear countless cases of sons and daughters turning against fathers and mothers. But seldom can a father or a mother turn away a son or a daughter. Jesus picks this most fundamental human parental instinct to portray a merciful, a forgiving and a loving heavenly Father. In fact, our Father in heaven behaves not just exactly as a normal father does to his son, but even more. God cannot afford to lose even a single soul. Everyone is so precious to him. Thus, he always takes the initiative to get closer even to the most rebellious one. And when his son becomes astray, again he takes the pain of getting him back. He leaves the ninety-nine or sweeps the entire house just to restore what was lost.
Such attitude is even
more healing. True, justice makes its way to check the sinful by exacting
punishment. But the touch of love and mercy can undoubtedly soften even the
most hardened sinner. Where justice ends mercy begins. Again, what will repentance be without mercy? Indeed, countless
souls have still been in terrible agony not because they knew not how to
repent. But they remain is such miserable
situation because no matter how sincere their repentance is, nobody has ever
lent them a merciful ear. Indeed, there is more joy in heaven over one
repentant sinner, and of course, a loving father.