The Prodigal Son & Mercy

[Safia]

I’ve been meditating, on and off, about the prodigal son parable, and I had a question. I know it’s very basic, but I just couldn’t articulate the answer.

I can very easily understand the father: he loves his son dearly, and is quick to forgive. This exhibits the most perfect form of charity and mercy.

But I cannot as easily understand the son. He has repented, yes, which means that he has some kind of right to his father’s kindness. But at which point is it fair or good or for the son to forget the harm he caused? Is he expected to be conscious of it forever, or to pretend like it never happened, or what?

The father never ceased to love. But the son, in a way, did.

I’m having a hard time getting over that hurdle, both theologically and personally. Any explanations or insight = very appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Julia_Mae]

But at which point is it fair or good or for the son to forget the harm he caused? Is he expected to be conscious of it forever, or to pretend like it never happened, or what?

In the story, itself, the only harm the son did that we know of was to himself. He squandered his inheritance and ended up poor and alone and starving. Now, we can imagine that he sinned in ways that brought harm to others, but we really don’t know that.

What the son had was a great consciousness of his own unworthiness. He didn’t go back to be welcomed and made much of, he was hoping to be a servant, a slave, which was what he thought he deserved.

What will happen after the party the father throws for him? I think he will be so humbled and grateful, he will spend his life serving his Father and being a faithful son.

If we serve our Father, what do we have to do in gratitude for the party God throws for us, for anyone who comes to Him? Jesus told us: love one another, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, don’t even so much as call your brother a fool.

OR I guess we can spend our lives feeling badly about what came before. I don’t think that’s too useful. I think, for myself, that knowing my sin just made me realize that no one is beneath me ever. That if God can love me, then who can I hate? Thing is, we all are not good, not one. ALL that is good is of God. So, after the regret, the confession, the acceptance of Grace, after making amends if we can and devoting ourselves to prayer for those we harmed, we move on to new life in Christ.

Of course, all of that is new life in Christ. God brings good out of everything.

 

[GratefulFred]

A most excellent discussion can be read in this 1992 book:

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Meditation on Fathers, Brothers, and Sons. by Father Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-41867-1.

I highly recommend this small book to everyone.

 

[ignatius777]

I’ve been meditating, on and off, about the prodigal son parable, and I had a question. I know it’s very basic, but I just couldn’t articulate the answer.

I can very easily understand the father: he loves his son dearly, and is quick to forgive. This exhibits the most perfect form of charity and mercy.

But I cannot as easily understand the son. He has repented, yes, which means that he has some kind of right to his father’s kindness. But at which point is it fair or good or for the son to forget the harm he caused? Is he expected to be conscious of it forever, or to pretend like it never happened, or what?

The father never ceased to love. But the son, in a way, did.

I’m having a hard time getting over that hurdle, both theologically and personally. Any explanations or insight = very appreciated.

Thanks!

Its not a matter of fair or good its a matter of forgiveness. The son recognized his error and returned. The sin is forgiven and we move forward. Its up to each of us to be mindful of what the father has given us and to live with a sense of gratitude and knowledge that all he have comes from the father and to him we are to be forever thankful