Homily

Reading this parable again, which I've read and heard so many, many times in the past, I realized I had never thought about the element of time, but there is something to say about the way the three characters use time.

The youngest son shows no interest or care in what has happened in the past, or what is happening now in the present. He's had a great life for many years and he has a great life right now, but all he can think about is the wonderful life he will have in the future, once he gets the money. He is so blinded by his future dreams of glory and excitement that past and present mean nothing to him. But when the money runs out, he is forced to change his view because the present situation, his physical hunger, is giving him the opportunity to think again. Now, only now, does he see how wonderful and blessed his life was when he was living with his Father. So he changes his outlook for what he wants in the future, because it's no longer about a desire to live on his own in the quest for pleasure and excitement. He would rather life as his Father's servant than to spend another day outside of his Father's care.

Then, there is the eldest son, who is quite the opposite of his brother because even though he also cannot live in the present moment, it's not because he is stuck in the future; it's because he is stuck in the past. He tells his Father, "You did this, and that son of yours did that, and I am so very good but you treat me like garbage...” and on and on. It's easy to see how very angry he is about what happened in the past and how it makes him absolutely blind to what is going on right now, and to any good that might come out of it tomorrow. He's so stuck on what he sees as past injustice that he has no room for peace or happiness, and certainly not for love. Unlike his brother, he never once uses the title "Father” when speaking to his dad, which was a sign in that culture of great disrespect. When you add to that all the contempt he shows when speaking to his Father and about his brother, you can see there's no hope for him, no room for gratitude today and no place for love in the days to come. He's angry and bitter because of his false sense of history, and unlike his brother, he will not give it up to make a change for something better. He thinks other people have ruined his life, and he's waiting for them to fix it, standing there in anger without a clue.

Finally, there is the Father, and we find in him a perfect balance. It's clear that he has always loved his sons. When the youngest wants to move away, he's very sad for certain, but he allows him to go. And I imagine him every day and all the time, thinking about him, hoping that he is safe and hoping he will see him again. Rather than trying to force his adult son to stay, he sacrificed his own future hopes and desires for his son by allowing him to go. When this boy returns, he never brings up his own past suffering and sense of loss. He never brings up the foolishness of the boy's past actions. He never stops to think about what bad things might happen in the future if he takes his son into his arms today. In his great love, which was always there and always will be there, he simply welcomes him with his fatherly love.

Then there is the other son. Even when the oldest son insults his Father and accuses him of unjust treatment, we don't see the Father thrown off balance. He doesn't argue with this son about the past, and he doesn't promise him something good, nor does he threaten him with something bad in the future. He just wants him to see and understand what is happening right now in the hope that this son would finally open his heart to his brother, and maybe even open his heart to his Father as well, because despite the fact that this son only sees his Father as a source of cash, his dad still will not give up his love for him, or allow it to be changed by what he is receiving from his son.

Past, present and future – we live with all of them, but it's how we live with them in relationship to our heavenly Father, and even with our family, friends and neighbors that will show our lives as either balanced or disordered. The future. How do we see it, even though it's not yet come? Is it an opportunity for hope and faith in God our Father, or is it heavy with fears about what evils may come? And the past? Are we tied to the sins that may have been committed against us along with the sins we ourselves have done? Are we chained to past hurts and failings, or are we free for today? For our Father today – Who binds up past wounds and pardons our failings? Who promises to stand with us as long as we wish and to welcome us home forever if we truly want to be there, no matter what we fear the future might bring.... because we are not hired hands, but sons and daughters of the Living God – and every day, every day our Father waits to see us come to Him and to hear the sound of our voices calling to Him.