Have you ever come across someone who says to you “What? You actually read the Bible? Howcome? It’s so boring!” Some would add “But why would you want to read it? It’s always the same stories!”
They’re right: if one goes through the Bible without imagining, thinking, praying and listening they’re absolutely right. But if one “reads” the Bible properly then it’s no longer the “same stories” and it’s anything but “boring”.
I truly can’t seem to read anything without imagining it. For this reason I don’t find the Bible to be “boring” at all – and if they’re just “stories” they come alive everytime! Furthermore I know who wrote it and why. I know that God wrote it with the language and fingers of man ...for us. ...to tell each of us of His infinate love!
This day, when we celebrate Father’s Day I am continuosly reminded of that parable in Luke 15. Many people call it the story of “The Prodigal Son” but the main figure is actually the Father! The sons are secondary figures:
“There was a man with two sons.”
(Luke 15:11)
It is the story of
The Merciful Father.
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The Bible is alive and every word has meaning. Every story or fact conveys truth and one cannot just skim through/fly over a story and/or fact ...unless he/she is planning to miss most of these truths.
I can never read anything without imagining ...have you ever tried imagining this story?
Jesus continued, “There was a man with two sons. The younger said to his father: ‘Give me my share of the estate.’ So the father divided his property between them. Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth in loose living. Having spent everything, he was hard pressed when a severe famine broke out in that land. So he hired himself out to a well-to-do citizen of that place and was sent to work on a pig farm. So famished was he that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but no one offered him anything. Finally coming to his senses, he said: ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of your hired servants.’ With that thought in mind he set off for his father’s house. He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son said: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son…’ But the father turned to his servants: ‘Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.’ And the celebration began. Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about. The servant answered: ‘Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he has ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf.’ The elder son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. The indignant son said: ‘Look, I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. Then when this son of yours returns after squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened calf for him.’ The father said: ‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.’” (Lk 15: 11-32)
I won’t do the imagining for you – I can’t do that ...not even if I wanted to... so you do that ...if you like to... but the bit I like best is when the boy starts to think about going home. You’ve read the story and that’s how it is but I’ll write it putting emphasis and my own lines in ...as I imagine it.
Finally coming to his senses, he said: ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! Boy I’m REALLY stupid! I had it all – even the servants have it all – and yet here I am – a rich man’s son starving to death! Tatterred clothes, pigs food ...but how could it be that I’m this stupid?! (and it’s not fair either that I’m here ...sure I left but I AM his son ...i shouldn’t be starving here!) But what will I do? What can I do? I will get up and go back to my father that’s hard but still I’m his son I know I can do it. I’ll apologise sincerely. I’ll say to him: "Father, I have sinned against God and before you. (I know I have.) I no longer deserve to be called your son. (I REALLY don’t) Treat me then as one of your hired servants." It’s enough for me – I’ve done wrong and I know it but if he can keep me as a servant even that is enough ...it’s certainly better than this! With that thought in mind he set off for his father’s house.
We don’t see much of him along the road nor do we have his thoughts but can’t you see him and can’t you imagine what might have gone through his head?
A man walking, on his own towards his father’s house. He’s filthy and stinking (come on pigs DON’T smell nice and this man HAD BEEN feeding the pigs!) But if his appearance is miserable then look at his heart and see what goes through his head: “Boy look at me: I’m stinking with pigs, I’m filthy and dirty ...oh man what am I thinking? I left my father, embarrassing him before the other people. I spent all that he gave me ...well actually more like wasted it... oh man! But why was I so stupid? I know he’s kind and that he loves me but ...oh my what am I thinking? “love me”?? I’m lucky IF he accepts me! Love me??? ...i'd be lucky if I’m accepted – as a servant! ...what will the other people say? What will my brother say? Oh man what am I doing?”
and yet he keeps walking ...he looks like he’s on “auto pilot” or something, his feet practically dragging him home ...what’s there to lose anyway? He’s already lost everything! How much lower can he get? He keeps walking ...walking and wondering...
And then there’s the other side of the story: a father waiting for his son. A father who cared and kept waiting for him to return. (The boy didn’t know his father too well!)
"He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him."
Poor dad! And now you tell me: how could this father have “caught sight of him” unless he was on the roof of his house watching out for him? He most certainly was watching out for him – day and night! And then LOL when he sees this figure coming he’s straining his eyes to make sure it’s him! He looks like his son but he’s still a long way off. He’s been gone from home for some time now, his clothes are no longer nice and rich, his head is not high, his pace is not brisk – he looks different! ...But he IS his son! This is his son! The father has recognised him!
Before going to the next line, can you imagine his joy? Can you read his thoughts? “My son! My son! He’s coming home!!!” His heart is leaping with joy! His heart about to explode with happiness! This son is coming home! He’s coming home!!!!!!
His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.
“deeply moved with compassion”, “ran”, “hugged”, “kissed”. The boy probably just stood there thinking that he was either dreaming or else that his father was going nuts!
How can my father be "deeply moved with compassion" when he looks at me? Howcome he ran to welcome me after what I’ve done? And he’s an old man – old men don’t run!!!! ...much less to welcome a son like this! ...He’s hugging me?!!? Can’t he see how filthy I am ...can’t he smell this nasty smell? What’s he hugging me for?! Why is he doing this? Why’s he kissing me?!
Then when he’s kind of "recovering" from this "shock" he starts: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son…’
The father lets him express his sorrow for he knows it burdens him but that is enough. He won't have more of it. He’s estatic with joy and won't let him finish his words! He turns to his servants and with a tone full of excitement he says: ‘Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. (poor calf) We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found!’
I imagine the boy going “but dad... dad?” and the father just continuosly welcoming, hugging and kissing ...such that the son can no longer go on with his “buts”.
The father has called his servants to clothe and serve his son but I bet this father won’t even allow them to do it themselves! I imagine it is he himself who’s clothing the son, restoring dignity. I imagine him putting the ring in his fingers and kissing his hand. Tears of joy fill his eyes and he is pleased to bend down to put sandals on his son’s feet! (He'd have to wash his dirty feet first though - just like Jesus did with His friends!)
And the son stands there trying to understand. He’s been welcomed. He knows he does not deserve it but what can he do? And as he stands wondering, this confusion is transformed into joy: his father is overjoyed to have him home! His father loves him! What does it matter if he cannot understand his father’s reaction and love? He just knows it and is willing to accept ...what more could he ask for? What better thing can he ever have than such love?
"the celebration began."
God said there’d be a great feast everytime a sinner repents and God does that with each one of us. (Luke 15:7) He’s Our Father! Our Merciful Father! He’ll watch out for us, run to welcome us, hug, kiss, clothe and celebrate! He’d call His mother and the saints to celebrate with Him. He’d call all his angels and have a feast like no other!
He’d do that with each one of us - He’d do that each time I go back home. He’d do that each time I go to Confession – because He cares! Because He is a Father who wants only the very best for His children.
On this day, it being Father’s day I am grateful to God for Him being such a Father. On this day, it being Father’s day in the Year of the Priest, I am thankful to God for priests – men who serve God and His people, who are spiritual fathers. ...fathers to whom God gives authority to forgive our sins:
Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” (Jn 20: 21-23)
May each one be abundantly blessed
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