Laetare

The Parable of The Return of the Prodigal Son has been a source of inspiration for many artists over the centuries. Perhaps the most famous illustration of this story was painted by Rembrandt in the late seventeenth century. It was completed during the last two years of his life. According to the eminent British art historian, Kenneth Clark, it ranks among the greatest paintings ever.

He writes, “In the painting, we see the father like an Old Testament patriarch, lays his hands on the shoulders of his repentant son with shaved head and threadbare clothes. The father’s act of forgiving becomes a blessing of almost sacramental dignity. The painting is full of emotion and truly illustrates the father’s forgiveness and love for his son.”

The parable is normally referred to as the “Prodigal Son” but in fact, the central character of the story is the father, who clearly represents a merciful, loving God.

No one can deny the appalling behavior of the younger son, his immaturity, and selfishness. He asks for his share of the inheritance from his father. Asking for his inheritance while his father was still alive was unheard of. It is the same as saying that he could not wait until his father had died. He wants his freedom, and he wants it now!

Off he goes to a foreign country, far from his father and his family. He wastes his inheritance on self-centered pleasures, and in the end, he is left destitute. He was reduced to the degrading task of caring for pigs, appalling for Jews. He was so hungry that he was even willing to eat the garbage that was given to them. One can hardly imagine a lower level of abasement and poverty. “It serves him right,” “He gets what he deserves,” might be the reaction of many people, especially those who consider themselves good and respectable.

He comes to his senses and realizes how stupid he was to abandon his loving father. He makes up his mind to go back home and beg to be taken in as one of the lowest servants. He felt deeply ashamed and prepared a carefully worded speech for his father and then he begins the journey home, in fear and trepidation that he will not be accepted back.

The average human father might welcome him back but with conditions. He would love him, after all, he is his son, but he would have to prove himself as a responsible adult before the father could forgive and forget.

But this father was different, he never gave up on his son. He waited anxiously and kept watch, hoping his son would come home. Even as his son was far off, he saw him coming. He was so excited that he ran to him. That detail has always moved me, the father couldn’t wait for his son to reach him, instead, he ran to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. He didn’t care about his son’s speech, begging for forgiveness, having him back was enough for him. “This son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.”

In Rembrandt’s painting, the son is kneeling before his father with his face buried in his father’s robe, presumably weeping. His head is shaved and one of his worn-out sandals has fallen from his foot. The father is embracing his young son with large strong hands, pressing on the shoulder of the young man’s threadbare garment. It is a touching image of mercy and forgiveness.

During the father’s celebration for the return of his son, the older son makes his appearance. As he approaches the house, he hears the music and dancing and the sounds of celebration. He cannot understand what is happening and asks the servants what is going on. Enraged by the treatment his father has given to his brother he refuses to come into the house. His father comes out and tries to persuade him that it is right to celebrate the return of his brother. The older brother then recites a litany of his brother’s escapades. He squandered his inheritance and lived lavishly with prostitutes in a foreign country. Now he comes home and is treated like royalty. What kind of justice is this? In a state of boiling contempt, he stretches out his arm, points to the house, and in his father’s face screams, “This son of yours,” and the father gently rebukes him and says, “your brother.”                      

The older son was faithful, worked hard, and never disobeyed his father’s orders, and what does he get - nothing. I can understand his anger and resentment. He felt offended, taken for granted. After all, he has been a loyal, hard-working son. He did everything he was supposed to do, but for the wrong reasons. His resentment points to deeper wounds. He has never felt accepted, appreciated, or loved. Like his younger brother, he is also lost and blinded. He did not have a forgiving heart; unlike his father whose love never changes no matter what his children do. He is ready to accept them back without exception.

The interesting thing about this parable is that Jesus did not give it an ending. It’s up to us. Which brother do you identify with? Perhaps a little of each? But the real point of the story is that we see in ourselves the arrogance and rebellion of the younger son and the mean-spirited anger and resentment of the older son. We all at times have shut ourselves off from the compassionate love of God.

Lent is a time for personal conversion and renewal. It only comes about when we are ready to acknowledge our sinfulness and our tendency to evil. We pray every day in the “Our Father,” “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” We cannot change unless we know what needs to be changed. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news” as Jesus says at the beginning of Mark’s gospel. (Mk 1:15) Repentance not only calls for regret and sorrow for sin but a profound change, a real reordering of my life, a real conversion.

I wish to end where I began, with the commentary on the painting of Rembrandt, by Kenneth Clark. “Rembrandt has portrayed the dignity and grandeur that perfectly reflects the younger son’s sincere repentance as well as his father’s loving and merciful response. The inherent message conveyed by this spiritual masterpiece is clear. God will always forgive a repentant sinner, no matter what.”

Today we celebrate the halfway point of Lent. The Church pauses to rejoice and sing, “Laetare”! It is a Sunday of joy. It has a place apart among the Sundays of Lent. This Sunday is our foretaste of Easter joy.

Like the father in today’s parable, we also have a merciful, compassionate Father in heaven who loves us and waits for our return. Now that’s something to rejoice about.

Today's homily by Father Emmanuel.