Father and Son (Source: Unsplash | Pixabay)
We are all too familiar with The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
This moral lesson is known by many names: The Lost Son, Running Son, Loving Father, Lovesick Father. Every time a priest, pastor or minister reads Luke 15:11-32, the focus of the sermon is often us, the congregant faithful and metaphorical Prodigal Son.
he parable is about a father and two sons — even though we rarely hear much about the other son..
Most who explore Luke’s Gospel (Luke 15:11-32) focus on the many ways of God’s forgiveness.
The metaphors are clear. We, the many, are the lost son and God is the father who welcomes us home into His open arms.
But much like I did in The brother of the Prodigal Son, I’d like to give another take on the timeless parable.
I’d like to put parents in the place of the father and make our children the two brothers. Finally, instead of making the father’s home symbolically God’s open arms, let’s keep it simple and make it literally “home”!
As parents, we must continue to work hard to establish and maintain a reverent household and raise faithful children. That includes nightly prayers and giving “thanks” before means — even when you’re eating out.
Every home should be a display of our love of Our Lord; a miniature Church
Besides a small silver crucifix in our living room, the walls of our dining room are subtly decorated with a Celtic cross on one side and the Cross of Saint Brigid on the other.
Every room, in fact, has something that reflects our devotion to Jesus and His Church.
When in the car, we often put on Christian radio or have a CD from Lighthouse media and other outlets. Grace before meals, is a staple part of our diet — whether we’re at home or out.
We talk about Jesus, as if he is part of our family — because he is.
I’m certain that the father in Luke’s Gospel did the same. It anchored his one son. However, temptation still drew his other son away.
Likewise, our sons and daughters may one day stray and may unfortunately get lost no matter how hard we tried. We even, sadly, may, be powerless, at the time, to protect them from this fall.
Not to make like of a horrible situation, but heck … even God, the first parent, couldn’t prevent the first two children from falling for the lies of the serpent.
But, if a strong enough foundation is built under them during their childhood, they will one day, be able to rebuilt their lives on that foundation.
And, like the prodigal son, they will be come home and be welcomed back with open arms.
As Thomas Aquinas so eloquently wrote:
For the first man sinned by seeking knowledge, as is plain from the words of the serpent, promising to man the knowledge of good and evil. Hence it was fitting that by the Word of true knowledge man might be led back to God, having wandered from God through an inordinate thirst for knowledge.
James Henry is also the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, ‘Twas, Hail Mary series, and two children’s books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to ALL! To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman/McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988 or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.
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