Today's Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The Prodigal Son is one parable that we can relate to in different ways at various moments in our lives. When we have made a boatload of bad decisions and come crawling back on our knees to family members and God, we can identify with the prodigal son. At some point in our life journey, we all mess up big time. At those times, we are in great need of forgiveness and acceptance. Even if our families may reject us, God will always welcome us home and celebrate our return.

At other times, we are the older brother (or sister), upset that another sibling is being treated like royalty after a long absence or a string of bad choices, while we have been doing the right thing, holding down the fort with no recognition. We may question God’s mercy, wondering how it can possibly be fair. We can succumb to the sins of envy and anger, which ironically, puts us in the position of needing God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Finally, especially as we grow older and have grown children, we may need to be that father or mother who welcomes back the repentant child who has broken our hearts. In those hard moments, we need to be a visible sign of God’s mercy.

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Ponder:

Who do you most identify with as you read the parable of the prodigal son today? Do you need to ask for forgiveness or is there someone you need to forgive?

Pray:

Dear God, please help me always to ask for your forgiveness and mercy and help me to extend that same forgiveness and mercy to others.

 

Copyright 2017 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

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About the Author

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a master’s degree in applied theology and is the author of The Power of Forgiveness, Our Lady of La Salette: A Mother Weeps for Her Children, and The Life and Lessons of St. Zelie Martin. A mother of three, she is the editor of TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com as well as a freelance writer and editor.