Commentary on the Gospel of
God’s Desire to Love Us
The English novelist D. H. Lawrence wrote, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But it is a much more fearful thing to fall out of them."
The parable of the Prodigal Son has a lot of layers, but at its core is God's desire to love and welcome us into his arms. The story begins with a young man choosing to turn away from his father and continues with a description of the repercussions of that choice.
In what ways have we turned away from God? What have been the consequences of those choices? As we continue to read, the young man “comes to his senses” and repents, asking for mercy and forgiveness. We should notice that nowhere in the story is the young man called to repentance. All he does is recall his father and the memory of the father’s love and generosity is so strong and vivid that it evokes a natural response of regret, repentance, and the desire for reunion.
As soon as he returns, and not a moment later, the father embraces his son without chastisement or criticism. God so desires to love us and to welcome us home. Today, remember God’s mercy, compassion, and infinite love.
Acting on today's Gospel, consider reminding someone that they're loved by giving them a hug like the father in our story!
