24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time; September 11, 2022

Ex 32:7-11,13-14.  Ps 51.  1 Tim 1:12-17.  Lk 15:1-32

Deacon Jim McFadden

            Today’s Gospel passage (Lk 15:1-32) begins with several people criticizing Jesus for hanging out with tax collectors and sinners and they scornfully say: “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (v. 2).  Well, despite their disdain, that statement is absolutely true; indeed, if one were to place a banner at the vestibule, it would read, “Jesus welcomes only sinners: come in and sit at his table!”  In response to those who were criticizing him, Jesus offers three parables that reveal his affinity for those who have drifted away from him. 

            The first parable says, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?” (v. 4).  What man of you?  Are you kidding!  A man of common sense would simply cut his loss and look after the ninety-nine that remained.  But, God is not like that: he doesn’t give up on the one who is lost—he cherishes him even if he does not know the depth of God’s love; even though he has never welcomed Jesus into the center of his life; even though he may be stuck in his sin; even though he doesn’t think that God could love him.  That’s the one that the Good Shepherd goes after.

            In the second parable we see an old woman who tears apart her whole house in search of a penny.  A penny!  This woman is tenacious because the Lord does not accept losing; he doesn’t give up as he searches relentlessly until he finds the coin.  He wants to tell us that even though we may feel we’re only worth a “penny,” we are precious in God’s eyes, that we are unique.  No one can replace us, which is why God goes to great lengths to encounter and find us.   We can’t be replaced in God’s heart: we are who we are and there’s no one like us from God’s perspective. 

            In the third parable, there’s the incredible story of the Prodigal Son, whose Father, despite being disrespected and rejected, awaits the return of his prodigal son.  God always waits for us.  He doesn’t get tired; he doesn’t lose heart no matter how obstinate we are.  Why?  Because we, each one of us, is that beloved son (or daughter) who is welcomed back with joyful open arms. 

All three parables illustrate just how much God loves us.  Whether it be the Lost Sheep caressed and put back upon his shoulder or the rediscovered lost coin, or the son embraced once again, God waits for that day when we will finally receive his love.  But, hearkening back to the banner in the vestibule, one could say, “I’m really a bad sinner; I’ve done some awful things in my life.”  Well, welcome to the club—we all have.  Don’t be afraid: there’s no sin that you’ve done that can stop God from loving you.  His love is unconditioned and if you accept it, his love alone can change your life.

This is the key for all three parables.  The only people who can receive God’s love are those who recognize that they are sinners, which is why we begin Holy Mass by proclaiming as an assembly the Confiteor.  At the same time, we have to recognize that God’s love can be rejected, which we see with the eldest son in the 3^rd parable.  He doesn’t understand what love is about and he has in his mind a task master rather than a father.  And, we can fall into the syndrome as well.  We can relate to God transactionally: that is, we think we can earn God’s love through righteous deeds. Or, we can think of God as a Super Hero who overcomes evil by the sheer force of his power, not by forgiveness.

Sadly, the elder son does not accept the mercy of his father, but walks away.  The eldest thinks that he’s got it all figured out, that he has been betrayed, and he judges everything from his warped perspective.  Then he becomes angry at his father and berates him, saying: “You killed the fatten calf  when this son of yours came” (v. 30).  Did you catch “This son of yours” reference?   He doesn’t call him my brother, but rather your son.  Sadly, he feels like an only child.  And, don’t we do the same thing when we think that we are the just ones, that others are really bad.  The eldest son has fallen into the trap of self-righteousness that by doing the right actions, he can earn God’s favor and overcome evil.  But, this is such a dangerous conceit because without God who is good, we do not know how to overcome evil.  If we read these three parables, we will see that it is only allowing God’s grace to work in and through us that we can do what is right. 

So, how can we make this transition; how can we overcome evil?  By welcoming God’s forgiveness and that of our brothers and sisters.  Its really that simple, which we experience every time we go to Confession, where we experience the love of God, which conquers our sin.  And, what’s amazing about this Sacrament is that sin no longer exists!  It’s like God has amnesia: when God forgives us, he forgets.  He is so good to us: all he wants is for our good and to share completely in his love.  We, on the other hand, have a hard time doing this.  If someone has wronged us, even though we may forgive them, we may still carry resentment or we remember what they did to us.  God doesn’t do this: he erases evil, he makes us new inside, and enables us to experience joy because he is being reborn within us.  There is no sadness, there is no darkness: only the presence of our loving God deeply residing within hearts. 

Brothers and sisters, spend some time with these parables and remember that no sin has the last word.  Let his mercy and forgiveness untie the knots of our life, free us from the conceit that we are okay, and makes us feel that we’re most human when we go to the Lord who always awaits to embrace us, to forgive us…to love us.  Amen.