Jesus said to them: "A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.' So the father divided up the property. Some days later this younger son collected all his belongings and went off to a distant land, where he squandered his money on dissolute living. After he had spent everything, a great famine broke out in that country and he was in dire need. So he attached himself to one of the propertied class of the place, who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs. He longed to fill his belly with the husks that were fodder for the pigs, but no one made a move to give him anything. Coming to his senses at last, he said: "How many hired hands at my father's place have more than enough to eat, while here I am starving! I will break away and return to my father, and say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me like one of your hired hands.' With that he set off for his father's house. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was deeply moved. He ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. ... The father said to his servants: 'Quick, bring out the finest robe and put it on him; ... Let us ... celebrate because this son of mine was dead and has come back to live. He was lost and is found."  

Charlie Babbit, the fun-loving, use-whomever-to-get-want-you-wanted, and now rich play-boy probably had never heard the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke's Gospel, and if he had, he probably would never have listened to it. But, as pictured by the movie "Rain Man," something happened to him. Realizing that his brother Raymond was not only someone that he could use like he used everyone else, Charlie Babbit "came to his senses." He began to understand that this brother of his, this "fruit cake" as he once called him, actually had loved him as a brother.

The pivotal point of the story that Jesus told about the prodigal son, or a better way of naming the story, the "forgiving father," was the younger son coming to his senses. The younger son had a conversion experience that turned his life around. Realizing what he had done, he came back to his father, telling him that he had sinned and no longer deserved to be called his son. He had given in to his selfish desires, and now he was ready to face the consequences.

There comes a time in everyone of our lives when we have to "face the selfishness," that is, when we begin to understand that we no longer can have what we want anytime we want it. We begin to understand that we no longer are selfish children. We have to come to our senses, and turn toward maturity. Some people are able to do it early in their lives, some people never really accomplish it.

It is significant that Charlie Babbit came to his senses when he finally discovered that his brother had loved him. The younger son of Jesus' story sensed the love his father had for him, as he began to see what he had done with his life. It is love that ultimately leads to conversion. The more we understand that God loves us, the more we can understand our selfishness. And the more we understand our selfishness, the more our lives begin to make sense.                   

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, one of the most important stories your Son relayed to us was the story of the forgiving father, in which we discover how much you love us. Help us understand your love more so that we can live unselfishly. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America