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Michael19682
Guest
Why does the son never say his confession to the Father?
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He does confess. He says: “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son.”
Jon
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kdbueno
Guest
Baptism allows you to enter into the divine life of God.
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Michael19682
Guest
Yes. And he also does not follow through with his contrition, in a manner of speaking. He does not say to treat him like a hired servant. He intended to say it, we learn through the words of Jesus. Yet he does not say it.
I think there is a significance in the discordance between his profession and his deeds. Namely, the subject matter of it: Hired servitude.
True contrition before the Father as I have learned, involves risk. I will not pass judgment on the prodigal son, but his contrition is at the very least not easy to call true to self.
Jesus
teaches us our true self. If we are not true to that, but concerned only with Safety, then we are not any kind of son. We are merely like people who don’t trust God because it is inconvenient and at times perilous.
Jesus also intends to show us the Father’s overwhelming grace. Before the words are out of the sin’s mouth, forgiveness is showered on the son. His son was lost, but now is found.
But he doesn’t stop there, when he speaks to the elder son, we can see that there is a difference. All I have is yours, he tells the older son.
Jon
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Michael19682
Guest
Those words to the elder son apparently tell of the Father’s grace. Yet neither of the sons gets it quite right on the first try. The philosopher, the logic, speaking here, would say that the Father of the two sons is not god because the true Son is not in the parable. — yet knowing the oneness of father and son, and understanding who gives the parable, we are drawn into the mystery of the Trinity.
So we are sons of God?
My question is how this parable might possibly be construed to circumvent the authority of the one bishop all agree is Peter? And all that implies?
Maybe the question should not be asked?
Any question has a place to be asked. My initial post to Steve b had to do with his use of the parable in regards the unity of the Church. I agree that the parable does not speak to the role of any of the bishops. My response all along has been that unity is found in the Triune God.
Jon
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AmbroseSJ
Guest
That is true of the Divinity. But here on earth?
As a Protestant that still has a sense of the Sacramental, Our Lord has left us with a Sacramental Unity here on earth. Baptism is not that sign, as it is a sign of entering into the Divine Life. But the sign of Unity here on earth, given by Our Lord is of paramount importance and relates directly to Salvation.
That sacramental unity is obviously not expressed in a sacrament separated from the THE ONE Sacramental sign of Unity. You can not have your cake and eat it too. You maintain your separateness (assuaging that appearance with another deceptive appearance) or you are One in Sacramental Unity.
This, too, Pope Benedict spoke of in his homily at the Lutheran Church in Rome, that one of the missing marks of unity is our current inability to participate in the Lord’s Supper together.
That disunity is a shared one. Yours is equally separated from ours as ours is from yours. Yours and ours are both separated from Eastern Orthodoxy, and theirs from ours.
There are other marks of disunity, including orders, both of which are valid, but not in unity.
Jon
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Bookcat
Guest
Yes the Holy Eucharist that is a very important part of it. As are other Sacraments.
But no I would not say “equally” (in regards to the Protestant service).
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Michael19682
Guest
What is your conclusion now?
Is not the Father Son relationship a good example of Unity on earth. Like Father like Son, for example? Unity in the spiritual sense as well as the bloodline? Like spouses, parents and their adult children argue from time to time, but of what boast is there in a man treating his wife whom he depends on well? And that compared to the love of the Father in the parable, whom was moved to compassion, for a man he previously (declared) dead?
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AmbroseSJ
Guest
While what you say is true, it is disingenuous. IOW, there was a disunity with the prodigal son and his father on both sides, but that did not mean that there was not a culpability on the one side and paternal forgiveness on the other. Their unity was only made possible (in the first place) by the return of the prodigal son. Secondly the forgiveness of the father completed their reunion.
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steve_b
Guest
Are you suggesting that all (Catholic Protestant Orthodox) are of equal status?
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Don_Ruggero
Guest
It is quite evident that the lack of communion is bi-directional. We are not in full communion with the Orthodox. The Orthodox are not in full communion with us. There is a state of impaired communion between the churches.
Disingenuous.
I’ll overlook this.Here is the flaw implied by some in this thread, that those not in communion with the Bishop of Rome are the prodigal son, and Rome is represented by the father. I don’t believe that was Christ’s intention at all.
Jon
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Michael19682
Guest
Intetesting. Bidirectional? Meaning if one side recognizes the other this enjoins the recognition bidirectionally? Does not sound like a free choice to me.
amazingdiscoveries.org/AD-Content-Library-NewsUpdates-WorldNews-Benedic-XVIVisitsRomeEvangelicalLutheranChurch
These words were spoken at the Lutheran church in Rome. Take note, please, that he did not say unity can only come if Protestants come and ask forgiveness from the pope. He said unity can only come from God.
Jon
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