4th Sunday of Lent

March 14, 2010

Josh 5, 9-12
2 Cor 5, 17-21
Lk 15, 1-3, 11-32

When I was in La Paz Parish for 10 months in 1988, I presided over a number of First Communion celebrations. I remember how the children were being coached individually to ensure active participation and a more memorable celebration of the Holy Eucharist. One afternoon in Canan church, I sat inside to observe the liturgical rehearsals. I was impressed how well versed the children were with regards to their responses and special assignments. The Eucharistic celebration the following day went very well part by part as expected particularly the Penitential Rite which amused me very much. The boy who recited one of the penitential prayers went on to say, “Para kadagiti panagsuksukir  dagiti nagannak kadakami” (For the times our parents become disobedient) instead of “Para kadagiti gundaway a nagsukir kami kadagiti nagannak kadakami” (For the times we disobeyed our parents). The parents, in chorus, answered “Apo kaasiannakami” (Lord, have mercy). It further amused me when after the Mass I asked if the boy intentionally changed his part. He said, “No father, did I not change anything, did I?”
After realizing the enormity of his misbehavior, the son in our gospel this Sunday went on to rehearse his piece, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you…” Like the boy in the penitential verse above who memorized his piece very well, the son in the Gospel must have also learned his piece by heart. He left the horrible place and made his way to his father’s house. There, with open hands, his father was waiting to embrace him. He did not need to finish saying all that he prepared to say; may be he did not notice but his words must have changed as he spoke with fondness and gratitude. The boy in the Penitential Rite did not notice the change in his verse but it touched deeply the hearts of those attending the Eucharistic celebration. The banquet that followed speaks to both the son in the Gospel and the boy in the Penitential Rite of the immense love of a forgiving Father.
Most of the time, the parable of the Prodigal Son refers to the erring son. It should not always be the case, for it can also be a parable of a Forgiving Father. In fact, another parable is in place here: aware of their parents’ weaknesses, deep in the hearts of their children, as what happened in the Penitential  Rite, they, too, are offering forgiveness – the Parable of Forgiving Children.

Fr. Emil Pati, SVD
SVD Provincialate, San Fernando City, la Union
The Word in Other Words