March 07, 26 Saturday of 2nd week of Lent: Father is Loving Because He is Love

Daily Divine Word

March 07, 26 Saturday of 2nd week of Lent: Father is Loving Because He is Love.

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Shepherd your People: Micah prays to God, asking Him: “Shepherd your people with your staff.” In the Bible, the staff symbolizes authority, care, identity, guidance, discipline, and correction. As the true shepherd, God leads and forms His people, guiding them along the right path and correcting them when they stray. Yet God does not impose His authority to dominate; rather, He disciplines out of love for His people. Forgiveness reflects God’s love. The parable in today’s Gospel beautifully reflects the shepherd’s staff in action.

The Hero of the Story: Father is the hero. The story of the prodigal son manifests the depth of God’s compassion. He is the Father who is never tired of forgiving us. He is the Father who celebrates the return of the son/daughter. He does not accuse. Past is not his concern. What amazes me is the ‘preparedness of the Father.’ The Father is prepared to received son event though he does not know anything about his son. He is ready with sandal, ring, fatted calf and a clothing. He can not afford miss the return of his son.

Self-righteousness blinds: Jesus addresses this parable not only to the tax collectors and sinners but also to the Pharisees and Scribes who complain about his dinning with sinners. The Elder brother blames his Father and refuses to welcome back his own brother. Grumbling about a good act is also evil. Self-righteousness blinds us.

Father loves because he is love: The Father celebrates the return of the younger son and embraces the elder son with all his magnanimity. No complaints, no accusations, no questions, only affirmation. The Father’s love for the sons does not depend on the actions of the sons. The Father is loving because he is love.

The rhythm of our lives: The story of the prodigal son replicates our lives; it’s the very rhythm of our lives. We may not run away to a faraway country, but we wander, we drift away, we wake up, we return, we are received, we forget, we wander again and the Father keeps watching the road.

Our Takeaway:

1. The staff symbolizes authority, care, identity, guidance, discipline, and correction. Yet God does not impose His staff to dominate; rather, He disciplines out of love for His people. Forgiveness reflects God’s love.
2. The preparedness of the father is amazing. He is ready with sandal, ring, fatted calf and a clothing. He cannot afford miss the return of his son.
3. Grumbling about a good act is also evil. Self-righteousness blinds us.
4. The Father’s love for the sons does not depend on the actions of the sons. The Father is loving because he is love.
5. Rhythm of life: we wander, we drift away, we wake up, we return, we are received, we forget, we wander again and the Father keeps watching the road.

Wilson SVD