Just come home

THESE past months, I have been attending family and class

reunions and these always gave me very happy, moving and memorable

experiences. There is a sensation of being at home, of being part of a

family or class where the process of growing up, of learning and

discovering, and of being unconditionally understood and loved as one

is, took place.

            All of these somehow reminded me of the parable of the

prodigal son. (cfr. Lk 15,11-32) We are familiar with the story. A son

went away from home, taking his big inheritance and wasted all of it

in loose living until he suffered its inevitable dire consequences. In

his desperation, the one good thing that he did, the last straw he

managed to clutch, was to decide to come home even if he was willing

not anymore to be considered as a son.

            We know what happened. The father was all the time waiting

for him. And when he saw a glimpse of the returning prodigal son, he

could not help but ran to him, very happy to have him back. He ordered

a feast and let go of what the son did. He knew his son was sorry.

            This is a great lesson all of us have to learn. In life,

anything can happen. We try to do what is good, but sometimes our idea

of what is good can actually be bad. We just have to remember that

even in our worst possible scenario, we can always count on God’s

ever-ready mercy as long as we decide to come home to him.

            We should always strengthen our faith in God’s mercy and

compassion. Of course. We should also try not to abuse God’s goodness,

even if we know that despite our best efforts we may end up abusing it

just the same. But whatever happens, we should come home. Just come

home. That’s what matters in the end.

            We need to strengthen our spirit of divine filiation—that

God is our father who is all merciful and compassionate, who is all

willing to do anything for us just to get us back to him.

            This point, I believe, is worth reiterating. It is what

truly grounds us to the foundation of our life and nature, giving us

the meaning and purpose of our existence. It’s a source of joy,

confidence and serenity. It tells us what our filial rights and duties

are.

            More importantly, it tells us who we are and gives us an

abiding sense that we are never alone, or worse, just on our own. It

fills us with the conviction that we are children of God, that no

matter what happens God will always be with us and for us unless we

reject him.

            We have to be wary of our tendency to think that we are

just on our own. That would be an attitude that can be suggested only

by the devil who will always tell lies. Sad to say, many people are

succumbing to this trick of the devil. That’s why many now fall into

some deep despair when misfortune comes their way. They feel there’s

no one else to run to anymore.

            God’s ever-ready mercy and compassion cannot be doubted at

all. In spite of all our sins, he in Christ is willing to die for us,

to assume all our sins for us, and to render death to our sins with

his own death and conquering them with his resurrection.

            This divine mercy should never be lost in our mind. We

however should try to avoid being spoiled by it. Rather, the assurance

of divine mercy should prod us all the more to be more generous, more

fruitful, more faithful in our love for him and for everybody else.