Of all of our Lord’s parables, there is none that is more easily grasped, nor one that is more beautiful in its imagery of the Father than today’s!
The story of the Prodigal can be grasped by each and every one of us, for in our own ways he is us, we are him. How often have we decided to take things our own way, instead of seeking the will of the Father? How often have we found ourselves a great distance from His love. How often, after suffering the consequences of taking off in our own direction and not seeking His will first, have we come to conclude that things were so much better when we found ourselves beneath His love? How often have we repented, returned, and asked His forgiveness?
But in addition to these “How often’s”, we must add, “How often have we gone and done it all over again?”
That’s a painful thing to have to admit, isn’t it? You’d think that I would have learned the first time of how loved I was. You’d think that I would have, in my repentance, gained a vision of all the ways that the Father loves me, cares for me, provides for my needs, answers my prayers.
But I fall in some given way. I go off to that far country and spend all the riches He has given me, and only once I have attained true poverty do I sense the need to turn from my sins, to return to the Father’s love. And upon returning, in my sinful humanity, at the very next opportunity I run off again in a different direction, once again leaving His love and care for me.
And so in a great many ways, I am not “like” the Prodigal—I am worse than he is. For in his return, he sought not full reinstatement as the Father’s son, but only to become like one of His hired servants. When the Father placed a ring on his finger, shoes upon his feet, a garment upon his back, the Father showed the Prodigal that full repentance brings full restoration There is total forgetfulness on the part of the Father for that which has transpired when we return in true repentance.
Our Lord says that the Prodigal, while in that far-off country, “came to himself.” (Luke 15:17) The expression from the Greek is eis eauton, which translates to “coming into oneself”. It implies a deep introspection, a fervent review asking “What is it exactly that is wrong with me?” It is the correct attitude to assume in repenting. It is the proper thing to do in preparation for coming before the Lord with a confession. The process is not a superficial one. The Prodigal did not say to himself, “All I need do is return to the Father. Perhaps He still loves me. Perhaps He will have me back as His son. And if not, perhaps He will keep me as a worker.”
The Prodigal did and said no such things. His process was an agonizing one. It involved not only great preparation, but even great effort (the effort to return that great distance to the Father) and rehearsal. Rehearsal? Yes! For our Lord tells us that he had concluded exactly those words he would offer to the Father before he made the journey. It is a wonderful image to picture that return! What was in the Prodigal’s heart? It had already found great repentance. Now it needed only one thing—confirmation that his repentance would be received well.
We term that “absolution.” The prayer that we offer at Saint Herman's in granting this absolution even references this wonderful parable. "God it was Who forgave David through Nathan the prophet when he confessed his sin, and Peter weeping bitterly for his denial, and the harlot in tears at His feet, and the publican and the Prodigal, may that same God forgive you all things through me, a humble sinner, both in this world and that to come, and set you uncondemned before His dread Judgment Seat. Now, having no further cares for the sins which you have confessed, depart in peace. Go and sin no more."
The prayer thus offered is replete with references to great sins documented in Holy Scripture, not to make us feel "good" about our own sins confessed, but to give us that firm understanding that God truly can and does and will forgive all that is confessed in purity of heart and of spirit!
The Father’s rushing to meet His wayward son is the image we need to see as we enter the confessional on each and every occasion. The Father rushes to meet us in just the same way as He goes to the Prodigal. Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mat 9:13)
The Father calls us. The Lord calls us. Our sins cry out to us, all in concert calling us to repentance.
As this Great Fast comes upon us, may we all find the heart of the Prodigal!
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