From The Lord’s Prayer

You are ready and willing to forgive someone but he or she does not want forgiveness. That’s a difficult position to be in, isn’t it? The person who wronged you may be unaware of the wrong, but that is part of the problem also. Original sin or the effects of original sin are very real, indeed. Look at the selfishness or self-centeredness that abounds in life. People wanting their own way at any cost; people playing nasty games with each other; sometimes to get even, sometimes only for kicks. People need people, as the saying goes. But, people need God first. Without God’s gift of forgiveness how can we treat each other as we wish to be treated? If we forgive each other, God will forgive us. How can we do this? Where can we draw the strength to be so big hearted? Let’s take a look at the parable of the prodigal son in the gospel of Luke, chapter fifteen.

The prodigal son only thought of himself. He wanted a good time and he didn’t care who got hurt. So, he asked for his inheritance ahead of time. As the saying goes, he decided to go for it. And ‘go for it’ he did. He took the money and lived the wild life. But, his father did not give up on him. He spent many years watching for some sign that his son might come to his senses and return home. The amazing thing about this father was that he did not become bitter during those years. This is the real message of the parable. The father in the parable is an image of God and God never gives up. He waits until we are ready to be reconciled, and His forgiveness is unconditional.

Notice how the older son rejected the father’s willingness to forgive. It seemed unfair to him. God’s generosity is often a scandal to the righteous people of our world. They feel bitter and angry with those who have rejected them and they want God to punish the wayward.

In meditating on this parable we need to ask ourselves if we are like the prodigal son; the older son; or the father.

You may want to read some earlier blogs I wrote on this subject by scrolling along the archives or category section until you come to the heading: forgiveness.

Forgiveness takes courage; only the weak are afraid to forgive.

Fr. Hugh Duffy

* * * Do not miss tomorrow’s blog on Beatitudes * * *