THE FATHER IS WAITING

If there is one common reality among us human persons, it is sin. All of us may have committed sin in our life. Even saints did sin. St. Peter betrayed our Lord three times. St. Thomas the Apostle doubted the resurrection of Christ. St. Augustine was an adulterer before he was converted. St. Paul had a thorn in his flesh. Who among us did not sin? But what separates condemned sinners and exalted saints is the attitude towards sinfulness. Repentance turns sinners into saints. It is the response of man to God's invitation to be made clean, through his grace and mercy, from the muds of sin. It takes courage to admit our faults and imperfection, especially in our world that only admit flawlessness.   

In the story of the prodigal son (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32), the younger son sinned against his father by dishonoring him through loose living and by squandering all his inheritance. And for doing so, he lived a miserable life; the consequence of his sins. But he came to his senses and realized his worth to his father, more so, the worth of his father as one capable of forgiveness; one whom he can approach even if he had transgressed him. He rehearsed what he was going to say to his father as he would meet him. He summoned all the courage left in him, and went to his father. The father must have waited for the return of his younger son, for he saw him from a distance. Without waiting for his son to approach him, the father ran towards his son and embraced him. The son was not able to utter his rehearsed script, save from the simple admission of his guilt. The father mentioned no words to his repenting son. But his actions spoke louder. He brought back his son’s dignity by clothing him, giving him a ring, and throwing a feast in his honor. He showed him mercy more than condemnation and a demand for justice. That is an image of God who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4); our God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency (Mi 7:14-15, 18-20).

The mercy of the Father is only valuable to a repenting heart. The self-righteous who believe that they are perfect will never experience the beauty of forgiveness; the warm embrace of the Father.

In life, we can focus on our mistakes and resort to self-pity, or worse: succumb to our sorry state of life and enjoy sinning. But we have a better choice: to repent and embrace our true identity as children of God, capable of repenting, of rising above sinful situation, and to be good again. Will you come to your senses, and repent? The Father is patiently waiting for you.