Our Lady Of Perpetual Help

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Reflection -   Week of March 30, 2025

Question of the Week:

How can I be merciful like the father in this parable?  What resentments do I need to overcome?  Can I be truly forgiving to someone who has hurt me or those I love?

     The prodigal son is starving just the same as the Chosen People in the desert.  He is willing to eat as poorly as one of his father's hired workers.  Instead, his father spends his own wealth (for he'd already given his son half his legacy) to provide a feast for him, a banquet of reconciliation.  The prodigal son sinned in every way possible, spurning his father and living a dissolute life.  Yet the father welcomes him back with open arms.  We recall this feast as we approach the Eucharistic table as sinners today, which itself foreshadows the banquet of reconciliation we are promised when we at last are united with God.

    We can likely relate to each of the characters in this parable in some way. At times we have sheepishly returned to someone we've wronged and asked forgiveness Other times, we've resented that someone unworthy was rewarded and we've refused to be placated.  We may also recall celebrating a loved one's apologetic return.  Knowing that we have a heavenly Father who does this continually, let us adopt the attitude of the penitent son who is rewarded with true reconciliation.