Newsletter September 11th (24th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

A thought on todays Gospel…

Forgiveness is fine when we ask for it for ourselves. But what about letting others be forgiven? The father in the parable throws such a huge party that the noise is heard out in the fields. Are we also willing to celebrate, if peace can be reached without revenge or punishment? Or are we like the sullen elder brother who resents celebrating the return of his lazy, irresponsible younger brother? Can we accept that God offers mercy to everyone, no matter what they have done? If we are to be truly Christian, we have to change our view of other people, and to see them as God does, with understanding and of mercy. The Prodigal Son story has no clear ending. We don’t know if the elder brother eventually went in to join in the celebrations, or stayed outside, seething with self-righteousness.

There is no ending, because it is not just a story, it is a challenge to each of us.

How would you end the story? Would you go in or stay outside?