Sunday, March 14, 2010

Sunday, March 14, 2010

(Parable of Prodigal Son)

Jesus said: “My people, the Pharisees and Scribes were criticizing Me for eating and drinking with sinners. In another passage I said to the Pharisees: (Matt. 9:12)‘It is not the healthy who need a physician, but they who are sick.’ In today’s Gospel about the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) I also likened the Pharisees to the second son who did not need to be found. This was the son who refused to go in to celebrate his brother’s return. The Pharisees refused also to believe in Me that I was God’s Son, and they refused to follow Me as well. The first son, who squandered his father’s money in sinful living, is like all sinners that I invite to conversion, so they can be found with Me in My forgiveness at My banquet in heaven. The scene of the father rushing to receive his lost son represents how I and all of heaven rejoice over the conversion of even one sinner. The last sentence of this parable invites those who were faithful with those who have returned to Me from their sinful life. (Luke 15:32) ‘Son, thou art always with Me, and all that is mine is thine; but we were bound to make merry and rejoice, for this thy brother was dead, and has come to life, he was lost, and is found.’”