The prodigal son

This is one of the most beautiful parables in the Gospel, describing not only our ingratitude but, more importantly, the remedy for that ingratitude.

What is the attitude of the son?

The son’s attitude is clear: “I do not need you, Father. I only need your possessions.” When he asks for his inheritance, he is essentially wishing his father dead. He cares nothing for his father’s love but only for his desires. How would you feel if your own son said, “I don’t need you, I only need your money?” This, in essence, is the sin we commit against God: “I do not need You, I only wish to enjoy what You have given me.”

The Destruction of Sin

The son then goes to a far country, and instead of being a son of his father, he becomes a slave. From the comfort of his father’s table, he ends up eating the leftovers of swine. This is a graphic description of sin. When we leave the home of our Heavenly Father, when we turn away from God’s love, we end up seeking the love of humans, but we forget that we already have the perfect love of God.

The Love of the Father

When the son repents and recognizes what he has lost, he finds no condemnation. His father embraces him with love and gives him back what he had lost.

This is the mercy of God. God not only forgives us but also enriches us.

A Story About a Priest and a Thief

Let me share a story that illustrates this. A priest in Spain once caught a thief stealing from the church’s offering box. He confronted the thief, who ran away. Later, the priest noticed that a 20-euro note was missing.

In his homily, the priest explained that if the thief repented, he would need to repair the wrong and repay what he had taken. Later, a person from the congregation approached the priest and said, “Father, here is the 20 euros for the thief. And perhaps there will be more that you will need when you find him.”

The priest searched for the thief for a week, and he thought to himself, “If I find him, he might think that I’m just trying to demand my money back.” But the priest also knew that he wasn’t demanding anything; rather, he was going to tell the thief that someone had already paid and even more had been offered to him.

When the priest found the thief, the man could hardly believe it. “Truly, Father, these are such good people…” After a week, the thief returned and confessed his sins. Both the priest and the thief were in tears, experiencing God’s mercy in a profound way.

Many Sons Have Left the Home of the Father

This brings me to the point: many young people have left the Church, turned their backs on their heavenly home. They might say, “I don’t need the inheritance; I don’t need the love of the Father.”

But we, who have already received God’s mercy, are called to show that mercy to others. If you have found mercy, then show the mercy of God to those around you.

Mercy Does Not Leave the Son in the Pigsty

Mercy heals. The father did not leave his son in his miserable condition. He gave him new clothes, sandals, and a ring. True mercy does not leave people in their vices and sins. The world may offer addiction, but God offers new life. Mercy is not about leaving someone in the same condition; it’s about bringing transformation and healing.

Let us show the mercy of God through our actions. When we do, people will glorify God. Mercy is a change of life. It’s a call to rise above our sins and to return home, just like the prodigal son did.