Gospel Reflections for March 6 2016
The prodigal…and polarized sons
Two sons in today’s Gospel could not be more opposite, and yet they are brothers with the same father, who is even more different! The younger son leaves home in a sudden rush to get away, and takes his inheritance with him. The older brother stays home, but quietly resents his own lot in life as well.
They have completely different personalities, temperaments, and character. I am sure they never got along. I will even bet that the younger son left home precisely to get away from his angry older brother!
This house must have been filled with tension, hostility, and resentment. Yet, this remarkable father reaches out to both sons with whole hearted love and affection. Despite the completely opposite character of these two brothers, the father never forgets they are both still his sons!
This is a remarkable and timely Gospel to read this week. In every election season these days, friends, relatives, and neighbors often fall into polarized political groups with little understanding or feelings of good will towards each other.
The father in this Gospel is amazing. He gave a share of his estate to his younger son because he knew and understood his son’s need to get away. He later welcomed him back because he knew and understood his son’s desire to repent and change. He expressed his love for the older son because he knew and understood his resentment at feeling left out.
All of the Father’s actions arose from his wonderful ability to know how another person feels and to understand how another person acts. That is the beginning of wisdom and love, to see the world through another person’s eyes.
In this parable, the father represents God, who knows and understands each of us so well. That must be our way as well.
While each of us might have our favorite candidates or policies, this Gospel invites us to see the reasons for the other candidates and policies as well. We should certainly use our intelligence, discernment, and good judgment as best we can when it comes time to vote, but we should never forget that those who vote differently are still our brothers and sisters.
We can admire those who analyze different political and policy positions well. We should admire most those who still remember we are all one American family.
The father in this Gospel is a leader who certainly gets my vote!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you, Father Dave, for advancing, and reminding us of how to apply Sunday’s Gospel to each of ourselves, as we each are that Prodigal Son, his father, brother, and voter in your homily.
The father in this Gospel is Our Lord who reaches out every day to all of His children!
I have already cast my vote for the Presidential candidate. I have my doubts about all the candidates and him, but he seemed the most interested in taking care of the entire country. Still, I plan to pray for him every day if he wins. If he does not, I will pray for whoever wins every day. God can make the most of what seems to be even the worst candidate and it is really God I place my trust in every time I cast a political vote. People can fail, and do, but God is always there and waiting for us. So, in God I trust when I cast my vote. I know I will never know everything about a political candidate. Most say what they need to say to gather enough votes to win. I pray whoever wins realizes a country is strong based on its infrastructure – its people. Hopefully, enough of us will realize this should be One People under God.
I share your same thoughts!
That’s a favorite Gospel story and a wonderful connection to real life. Thanks!
This is one of the most applicable parables of all time.
I feel like forwarding this reflection to everybody in America. We are living in historic times. May we always face them in the way our faith teaches us. Thank you for being one of our teachers in life living. Blessings, Joyce
Thank you!
A story I will never forget as I’ve been a prodigal son, too. Thank you Lord for your unending love and mercy, for forgiving me and for showing me the way, and for being there always.
Thank you Fr Dave for the beautiful reflection. God bless you and your Family and Ministry!
Roy and Adele Vargas
We all need the “Father” in this Gospel in our lives.
Thank you, Fr. Dave! This gospel really relates to the present times especially in the crux of the impending election. I am witnessing excessively hostile attitudes on social media, which I find disheartening. We can look to the late Justice Scalia as a prime example of how to behave and interact with others who have opposite views from ourselves. Despite Scalia’s traditional views and rulings in the Supreme Court, he remained great friends with the liberal-minded Justice Ginsburg, although they were politically polar opposites and the two often engaged in recreational activities outside the realm of court. Recently on Facebook, I have observed friends posting links revealing which of their friends were voting for certain candidates. They use this list to boycott and denigrate their friends, whose views and opinions differ from their own. We should not let politics or any differences divide our families and friendships. We should remember the bonds that reinforce those alliances and remember we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
I think that Justice Scalia knew and understood this parable very well, and lived it well in his life every day.
“That is the beginning of wisdom and love, to see the world through another person’s eyes.”
Dear Fr. Dave,
Thank you for the beautiful reminder to replace judging others with compassion for them.
May I also express my gratitude to God and to you for this service of wisdom and love you provide to any soul at any time either publicly or privately which encourages their inspiration and spiritual growth. I see these reflections as a 24/7 refuge for the doubting, sad, confused, frustrated, anyone who feels off the path, as well as an opportunity for those who seek knowledge, growth, wish to interact, share, possibly help others.
Your respectful invitation and facilitation of this encounter for all reminds me of Pope Francis who, in turn, reminds me of Jesus. And this looks like a great deal of work for you, so I just wanted to say I believe this likely does far more good than you even imagine or see… as did ComePrayTheRosary.org for me when I was able to access it in my mother’s hospital room prior to her passing last year.
May God continue to bless you in these endeavors!
Rita Knowlton
I am deeply honored by your message, and especially glad that you found the comepraytherosray.org website so helpful. Over 5 million people have found it a source of consolation as well. God bless you!
Great analogy Fr. Dave. I had never thought of myself as political but over the last two election cycles I have become more interested. It does appear our country and this world have become increasingly secular and headed far away from God. It is difficult to look at our political “opponent” and not associate wrong thinking with stupidity or evil intentions but, like my desire to have my children love and respect each other, even if they disagree; God want us to love each other no matter our politics. Excellent point!
I was amazed at the timing of this Gospel right now. It is truly a message for all of us now.
What a wonderful meditation for all time! Thank you Fr. Dave.
We see the Lord who loves us unconditionally, no matter what.
His welcome is like none other when we come home to Him, no questions asked,
and He has a patient acceptance of us when we don’t “get it”
Yes, this is a perfect gospel for the Year of mercy and a lesson in unconditional love.
I’m still reflecting on Sunday’s Gospel. Can I be like the loving parent every time each time I’m with my children regardless of their opinions political or otherwise? Am I like the prodigal son in not being appreciative of all the good in my life? Is there anything in my daily thinking that leads to anger and bitterness? Wow! A lot for me to consider this Lenten week.
Thanks Fr. Dave, for your moving commentary..
es, this Gospel is food for thought for all of us!
Father Dave,
The beauty of forgiveness is such a precious gift of love!!!To know if we are sincerely sorry for the wrongs we have committed and that our loving Father will embraces us always in love is sooooooooooooooooooooo very beautiful!! We love our loving Father and our precious Faith!!! Love and forgivness!! How special is that!!!! This amazing, story has also taught me to praise and show love always and give gifts of love to everyone, a kind word, a beautiful smile,a gift to the lonely, an endearing prayer for everyone to love our Jesus and our beautiful Mary!!! To love, forgive and embrace everyone with Jesus’ sweet love!!!
Loveeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!