“While being on mission, it’s such a blessing to hear mass in different parishes, said by different priests. There’s beauty in variety yet amidst the many differences, the message hits home the same way. ” — myself
Yesterday our gospel was about the Prodigal Son; a fan favourite parable! It talks of mercy, of forgiveness, of being lost, of going ‘home’, of love and of acceptance. As the priest recounted the message behind the gospel and reminded us of our Lord’s extreme love for us… it brought to mind the words ready & willing.
Both the father and the son exemplified the meanings for both of those words during both the pre- and post-departure. Pre-departure: The son seemed to have made up his mind and was ready to ask for half of his share. Most people wouldn’t dare ask such a lofty question, yet he was willing enough to bring his concern before his father. Upon hearing the son’s request, and I’m sure against his better judgement, the father was ready to hand over the son’s share of the land & earnings and willingly did so. I say willingly because there was no catch, there was no bargain, there was no stipulation. Post-departure: After he gambled and spent everything that was given to him, the son came to a point where he realized he didn’t have to live that life because his father was wealthy and had more than enough provisions. At some point, we can assume that the son had to struggle with setting his pride aside to even think of going back to the father he turned away from. In that process he became ready & willing to seek out his father and admit his faults. The father, I like to believe, was always ready and willing for his son’s return. When his son came home he was more than ready and willing to love him, accept him, and forgive him.
Both men showed their readiness and willingness to one another. Both seemed secure enough in their relationship to be able act in readiness and willingness with whatever they set their hearts to. This is what makes this parable so beautiful and so highly applicable to our everyday lives.
If we were to put ourselves in this parable, God will always play the role of the Father. Always ready and willing to love us, accept us, forgive us and embrace us. He will always celebrate our return to him. He will always forget all transgressions we’ve committed against Him. He will always be ready and willing to love us through both our best and worst. That’s how much worth he places on each of us. We, on the other hand, quickly relate to the character of the son. We get caught up with what the world deems as necessary, we take our claims to our Father and demand something, as though we’re entitled. Instead of handling things with care, we waste them on cheap flings and temporary highs only to find ourselves exhausted, used up and unfulfilled. But like the son, we need to acknowledge our own weaknesses and be willing to turn back to our Father, our Lord.
It isn’t always about How God is ready and willing to love us, that’s a given! It’s more about how ready and willing we are to go back to him, to ask for forgiveness, to plead for mercy. How ready and willing are we to die to ourselves and seek the life that our Father in Heaven wants to adorn us with? How ready and willing are we to pick up our crosses and walk with Him? How ready and willing are we to fully trust that whatever He has in store for us is exactly what we need; more than we could have ever dreamed to ask or hope for?
Like the Father in the parable, our God is slow to anger and quick to love. He has more than enough provisions to ensure us a life of fulfillment and true happiness in Him. He will always toil in preparation for our return to Him, and when we do return, not only will we be welcomed with open arms but a celebration will be thrown, for one of His children, one of His lost sheep has found it’s way back home.
Father, May we listen to your still small voice and be guided back to your side. Mama Mary, please pray for our souls and for the souls whom have no one to pray for them.