Today’s Gospel reading is the VERY familiar story of The Prodigal Son. Jesus’ parable of the wayward son who squandered his Father’s wealth then came home in shame. Only to be welcomed with open arms by his Father back into the family without question. And of the older son who was resentful of his Father’s forgiveness and acceptance of his younger sibling. When I saw that this was the Gospel for today I said to myself, “self, what are you going to find new with this story to relate?” Then I suddenly, out of the blue (OK, we know it was that pesky Holy Spirit working again), I realized how I had some similarity to the Prodigal.
The word Prodigal can be translated as lavish. Spending valued resources in a reckless manner. When I graduated high school I made the decision to go away, out of state, for college. To leave New Jersey and go to college in Illinois. This was actually a decision I had been fretting about since Freshman year in high school. Where was I going for college and what was I going to become? For a variety of reasons, I went to Illinois.
Now, I was the first person in my family to leave home for college. It was not a popular decision in the view of my parents. Especially my Mom. In many Italian families no child leaves home until the day of their wedding. And maybe not even then! So me leaving for school was hard for them to accept. I was, in a sense, abandoning them. I recall when my parents dropped me off at my dorm, and then began to drive away. I rode after them on my bicycle. They told me later that they saw me riding after them and felt bad because I was upset at them leaving. What I never told them was that I was just making sure that they had actually left campus!
But it was my visits home during school breaks that gave me a small glimpse of the Prodigal Son story. While I had not taken my half of the family fortune when I left home for college (though the expense of tuition may have seemed that way to my parents), I did take and “spend” family attachment and relationship. To this day I feel that I sort of said to my family, “I don’t really need you. I can do this on my own” And I am sure, to some extent, they likely had a similar view of my leaving.
BUT, if they had this view, it did not show itself when I returned. Each and every time I came home from school it was as though the King of England was paying a visit. Especially for my Mom. She would cook a big dinner. Invite all the relatives over. Telling them that they had to come to the house for a party because “Johnny (yes, that is what they called me) is home” Now, it would have been very easy for them to be upset that I walked out of their lives, never really to return for good. But, nope, I was welcomed.
And I also want to point out that my younger brother could very easily responded like the older, resentful brother in the parable. But he did not. Yes, he and others would use a bit of sarcasm like, “OK everything stops. Johnny is home”. But, all in all, Paul was great about it. Especially since it was he who had to support my Mom after my Dad passed away in 1986. He could very easily be upset at me for being away while my Dad was ill, caring for my Mother and the house, and also when my Mom got sick. In a way I lavishly spent his good will. To his credit, we are close to this day. In spite of what he had to deal with.
The book of the prophet Malachi, from where our first reading came from today, speaks of the anger and punishment God dealt out to the children of Israel for their disobedience. Anger that led to their exile into Assyria and Babylon. But in the later chapters it is God’s mercy, forgiveness and salvation that Malachi highlights. We all make decisions that others may support or agree with. Our actions may anger others that we love. We may “spend” the good will friends and family show us. But like God showed the Israelites, like the Father showed his son, and like my Mom and brother showed me. Mercy, patience, and support all are ingredients that combine to make up love. May we not only love our enemies but may we love each other.
