The Merciful Father and the Call to Conversion
On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, the Church invites us to rejoice as we journey toward Easter. But what is the source of our joy? It is the boundless mercy of our Heavenly Father, so powerfully illustrated in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32) in today’s Gospel. Although the parable is commonly called The Prodigal Son, the true central figure of the story is the father, whose love and mercy extend to both of his sons.
This parable is about two lost sons—one who is visibly lost and another who does not even realize his lostness. Both sons, in different ways, are distant from their father. It is a story that speaks to all of us, no matter where we are in our spiritual journey. Are we like the younger son, who strayed and now seeks to return? Or the elder son, who struggles with pride and self-righteousness? Above all, are we willing to imitate the father, whose mercy knows no bounds?
1. The Younger Son: A Journey from Sin to Conversion
The younger son's story mirrors the experience of every sinner. He demands his inheritance, symbolically cutting himself off from his father, and squanders everything in reckless living. This "fascination of illusory freedom" leads him into extreme misery, culminating in the humiliation of tending swine—an image of spiritual destitution (Luke 15:13-15).
Yet, conversion begins when he comes to his senses. He acknowledges not only his offense against his father but also against God (v. 18). This recognition of lost dignity marks the first step of repentance. As St. John Paul II noted in Dives in Misericordia, "At the center of the prodigal son's consciousness, the sense of lost dignity is emerging." True conversion is not just regret but a decision to return to the Father, seeking reconciliation.
2. The Father: The Image of Divine Mercy
The father in this parable is unlike any earthly father. He does not wait for his son to arrive but runs to him—an undignified act for a man of his stature. His embrace and kisses precede the son’s confession, demonstrating unconditional love. More than just forgiving, he restores his son completely: the best robe (purity), the ring (authority), the sandals (freedom), and the fatted calf (celebration of new life).
As John Paul II wrote, "The father of the prodigal son is faithful to his fatherhood, faithful to the love that he had always lavished on his son." God’s mercy is not mere tolerance; it is an active, joyful restoration. The return of the sinner is not met with grudging acceptance but with festivity.
3. The Older Son: A Warning Against Self-Righteousness
While the parable begins with the younger son, it ends with the older one. His anger reveals a heart that, though physically close to the father, is spiritually distant. He sees himself as a servant, not a son, and resents his father’s mercy. Historically, he represents those who consider themselves righteous and resent God’s compassion toward sinners (Luke 18:9).
John Paul II reminds us, "Every human being is also this elder brother." The older son’s attitude—his jealousy, hardness of heart, and blindness—mirrors the self-righteousness that can keep us from experiencing true joy. Just as the younger son needed to repent of his sins, the older son needed to repent of his pride and judgment.
4. The Open-Ended Invitation
Unlike the younger son, whose story has a resolution, the elder son’s fate is left uncertain. Jesus deliberately leaves the ending open because it is not just a story—it is a question. Will the elder son recognize his lostness and join the celebration? Likewise, will we let go of pride, resentment, and judgment to accept God’s unconditional love?
Conclusion: A Call to Conversion
This parable is more than a tale of a wayward son; it is a mirror reflecting our own spiritual journeys. Whether we identify with the younger son who has wandered far or the elder son who believes he has stayed close, we are all called to conversion. The father’s invitation stands open: Come to the feast of mercy and rejoice in the love of God.