Reflections of a beloved son

Selections from Part III of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son **If you would like the audio of the talks from any of the three parts, please comment below with your email address (if that is possible). Part III: The Invitation – Resistance and Humility While the YS was away from home and while the father was waiting, what could the older son have been doing all along?   Holding onto grudges?   Upset with the father because he gave the younger brother the share of the inheritance?   He is stuck with all the work?   Upon hearing the rejoicing and celebrating, the older son is confused as to what is happening.   He is angry, upset, and jealous.   He does not understand the father.   You must know someone before you can understand them.   Even though the son has been with the father all this time, he does not know him. Do we know the father?   Do I know that I am His beloved? The father comes out.   Again, th...

Selections from Part II of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Part II: The Encounter – Reconciliation and Communion “His father caught sight of him.”   What was the father doing all this time?   When the son petitioned to leave, the Father did not plead and cling on to the son.   He lets him go, not because he did not love him.   But because the Father loved him.   In loving him, the Father allowed the son to act in freedom and exercise his free will.   The father said, “Okay, here is your share.   If you want to, you can go.   I will not stop you. The world is not pretty.   It can only offer you temporary comfort and happiness.   You can go, but know that when you go, you will experience pain and suffering.   You will experience a profound sense of loss and lacking.   You will be hurt.   You will be rejected.   But you can go.   Go, but know that this will always be your home.   You ma...

Selections from Part I of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Younger son (YS) – “give me” mentality, I deserve my inheritance, it belongs to me – I take; “The son is as impatient as the father was kind” (Peter Chrysologus).   (Grasping and grabbing)   Really saying to the Father:  “I wish you were dead.”  It is usually only when someone dies that we receive inheritance. Imagine what takes place during those few days before the son leaves.   When the son leaves and sets off to a distant country, he is not only leaving home, but he is leaving himself.   He wishes to leave his identity behind.   He wants to be his own person.   How often are we tempted by this?   “Be somebody” the world tells us.   Somebody powerful, rich, and famous.   Be somebody.   We are already somebody.   We are God’s beloved.   Each one of us.   We are loved by the Father from all eternity.   “I have loved you with...