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March 27, 2022Where St. Paul says that Christ became sin, he does not mean that he was a sinner. “Sin” describes the unsettledness of the human condition. Women and men can live holy lives, much like angels whose only desire is to serve the Lord. Unfortunately, many choose the opposite. They focus on selfish pursuits. They do not think of God, much less of others. The second son in the parable of today’s gospel opts for the egotistical road.
It does not take long for the young man to be blindsided by reality. He loses everything, even food for survival. Rehearsing his apology, he returns to his father. There he meets only mercy. The father is ecstatic to see his son alive. He does not listen to the apology. He only wants to shower affection upon his son.
Recently someone told me another version of a familiar story. A man was discovered on skid row in Chicago. He was drunk and homeless. His founder provided him a place to stay and good counsel. Soon the drunkard was attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. Sixty years later he died a happy death. He never forgot the day of his return to sobriety. Like the second son, he humbled himself to survive. Again, like the second son, he fell into the hands of God, his loving Father.
