Most of us can relate to the story of the prodigal son who received forgiveness. We yearn to be embraced, kissed, and forgiven by the father’s unrelenting love. Others can relate to the older son who became jealous of the father’s generosity. We can identify with the different traits of each character in the parable. 

When I was new in our community, I struggled to let go of the worldly things I desired, just like the prodigal son. Then I learned from my Light Group head, Lester Pasimio, how to invite to community and accept those who were once lost, just like the father who was merciful and generous. 

The parable ends with a celebration but left a cliffhanger question for the older son. For those of us who can relate with him, how do we respond when God seems generous to others and not to us? Do we respond with acceptance? Tolerance? Exuberance? Penance? As for me, instead of being jealous of others’ blessings, I’m learning to rejoice at God’s generosity in other people’s lives.

Tyrone Dizon (tyrone.dizon@theFeast.Us)

reflect

Find a community like The Feast that can intercede for you and be a part of your transformation.

Loving Father, You welcomed us into Your family of believers who receive Your unending mercy and unfailing love. May we continue to grow, so we, too, can welcome others to Your family. Amen.

St. Nicholas Owen, pray for us.

Israel knows that God is true and great. Why then do the people stray often from His will? What is it in the heart of man that makes us susceptible to self-focus and sin? If I could answer this question and find a solution to it, I would instantly become the most sought-after speaker in the world. But there is no universal solution. It is up to each of us to discover our path to God with the help of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; ¹⁵ as in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. ¹⁸ Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, ¹⁹ and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; ²⁰ you will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from days of old. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

R: The Lord is kind and merciful.

¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) ³ He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. ⁴ He redeems your life from destruction; he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) ⁹ He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. ¹⁰ Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R) ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. (R)

Gospel | Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

We know well the story of the prodigal son. May we never tire of meditating on this parable as it is one of the most beautiful expressions of a father’s love that we will find in any piece of literature. Let us always be willing to hear about God’s goodness to us, His children. Let us open our hearts to Him anew and afresh today.

Gospel Acclamation

I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

¹ Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, ² but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³ So to them Jesus addressed this parable. ¹¹ “A man had two sons, ¹² and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, giveme the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. ¹³ After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. ¹⁴ When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. ¹⁵ So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. ¹⁶ And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. ¹⁷ Coming to his senses he thought, “How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. ¹⁸ I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ ²⁰ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. ²¹ His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ ²² But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. ²⁵ Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. ²⁶ He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. ²⁷ The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. ³⁰ But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ ³¹ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. ³² But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read GENESIS 34 - 36 today.

One of the most beautiful and evocative words is “home.” I have been keeping a so-called “homey” or “homesickness” music playlist, which includes John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Michael Bublé’s “Home,” Diddy’s “Coming Home,” and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros’ “Home.” Every time I’m pining to return to those “roots,” or to recover a familial or familiar safe space, or to reconnect with priceless memories, I listen to such music tracks that serve as my keys to home. 

“Home is where the heart is,” as the maxim goes, or “There’s no place like home,” as another would say. But what if home doesn’t feel like home anymore?

All three characters of the Parable of the Prodigal Son—and the Father, too, in his unconditional and unmerited love—desire for an enduring home, where safety, security, serenity, sanity, and sanctity thrive. 

The father longs for a home that is whole and complete. He has everything, but everything means nothing for him if every loved one is not at home with him. He acts like a mother as he welcomes the younger son and pleads to the older son.The elder son is physically present at his father’s house, but his heart is far away from it; he’s at home but not at home. He needs a home that will heal his anger, envy, and self-righteousness. 

The younger son is eager to go home after squandering his inheritance in a life of dissipation and worldly pleasure. He desires for a home, too, that will heal his restlessness, intemperance, and self-indulgence.

English poet T.S. Eliot wrote, “Home is where one starts from.” I suppose it is also where we desire to end up. Yet what really is home? Is it a question of what, where, when, how, who—or Whose? 

Fr. Paolo Asprer, SSP

reflection question

Recall your experiences of homecoming.

May I forever be “home” with You, Lord God. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________