Fr. John Ryan

 

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

18th March 2007

 

In the parable of the Prodigal Son we are left in no doubt as to the actions of the younger son. Itching for his independence he asks for his inheritance and wastes little time before leaving home. Jesus says: 'A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country...'. Not only does he leave home but he ensures that he puts plenty of distance between himself and the apparent constraints of family. The search for independence is part of human development. We all go through the trauma of aiming past the familiar, cosy and at times even cosseted experience of the family home in order to fully express ourselves and "discover" who we really are. It is human nature to try and cut the apron strings and prove ourselves.
The younger son revels in his independence - "he left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery". Without the protection of home he falls into a way of life which is draining, financially and probably emotionally as well. He gets involved in all the wrong things. We can infer that he fell into bad company. And he loses everything, right down to the core. As well as squandering his inheritance he ends up losing his dignity, feeding on the pig swill in order to stay alive. His quest for independence may have brought autonomy for a while but leads to a disastrous situation for him. He comes to his senses and decides to return home and throw himself at the mercy of his father acknowledging that he doesn't deserve to be his son and is willing to be as a servant. The inspiration for his sorrow may not be the best - it is his empty stomach which inspires - but nevertheless he bites the bullet and returns. His prodigality is rewarded - his father welcomes him with open arms, forgives him without waiting for a full explanation and restores him to his full standing as his son. The independence-seeking young man experiences the love a father is called to show to his child. He experiences unconditional love, unconditional forgiveness - the ultimate tie that allows independence but recognises the fundamental human need for stability and relationship incorporating responsibility.
The younger son was sorry for what he did. He tries to make amends even if it is in a very basic way. In the present we increasingly find that sorrow for our ill-actions is not quite as forthcoming. The modem trend is to justify everything we do no matter how off the mark it may be often trying to explain away the reasons for actions by laying the blame at the feet of others or at the door of institutions or 'society'. When we fail to take responsibility for our actions we undermine the dynamics of social interaction. If no is responsible then very little, if nothing, can be done to redress bad situations and we end up going round in circles quickly going nowhere.
Irrespective of initial motivations, we should take a leaf out of the prodigal son's book and when we realise that we have done wrong take responsibility for our actions and face the consequences - only then can things be made right, only then can things be truly made new or become a new creation.