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“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them. After a few days,
the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a
distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of
dissipation. Luke 15:11–13
Why did the father in this parable give his wayward son his
inheritance? Very few parents would do such a thing. Essentially,
the son treated his father as if he were dead. He showed no
interest in remaining part of the family, nor did he care about his
father’s potential need for him in old age. The son’s only
desire was to take the money, leave for a distant land, and live a
sinful life, severing his relationship with his father. So why did
the father agree to the son’s premature demand for his
inheritance?
The father’s extreme generosity represents God’s deep respect for
our free will. This parable was addressed to the scribes and
Pharisees, who constantly sought to manipulate and intimidate God’s
people into submission. But God doesn’t work that way. He allows us
the freedom to sin because, without that freedom, we would be
unable to love Him authentically.
The symbolism in this parable is clear: the son represents all who
reject God, treat Him as though He were dead, abuse the natural and
worldly gifts they’ve been given, and stray deeply into
sin—symbolized by the “distant country.” When God’s children reject
Him and use their free will to sin, He permits them to experience
the consequences of their choices. They soon discover that a life
of sin away from Him quickly turns chaotic. While sin might provide
temporary satisfaction, it inevitably leads to spiritual hunger and
destitution.
It was the responsibility of the religious leaders to treat God’s
people with the same respect that the father in this story showed
his son. This remains the responsibility of every parent, Church
leader, and person in authority today. First and foremost, we must
respect the free will of others. Authentic conversion and worship
cannot come from intimidation or manipulation. Yet, the scribes and
Pharisees, through their self-righteousness and condescension,
interfered with this essential quality of faith and worship.
Even worse was their attitude toward those who had gone astray.
They were indignant that Jesus welcomed tax collectors and sinners.
But that was precisely why He came—to invite sinners to repentance.
And repent they did. The scribes and Pharisees, however, were too
self-absorbed to even consider extending forgiveness to those they
deemed unworthy.
When someone you love sins against you, how do you respond? Do you
allow the one you love the freedom to make choices, continuing to
love that person even in his or her rejection of you? The scribes
and Pharisees couldn’t stomach such mercy. But to God, it is a
profound act of respect for human freedom, allowing each person to
experience the consequences of his or her decisions. And when a
sinner begins to suffer those consequences, do you think to
yourself, “I told you so”? Or does your heart fill with compassion,
making it easy for the sinner to return to God and to you?
Reflect today on your attitude toward sinners. We are all sinners,
and none of us has the right to judge, intimidate, or condemn
others. Mercy—abundant mercy—is essential if we are to become like
the father of the prodigal son. Only mercy that fully respects
others, longs for their conversion, and forgives even before being
asked can effectively change hearts. Contemplate the heart of our
loving Father in Heaven and strive to imitate His holy
virtues.
Most merciful God, You have given me the freedom to love You or
reject You, to obey Your perfect Law or follow my own will. When I
sin, help me endure the consequences, so that in my humiliation, I
may recall Your abundant mercy and turn back to You with all my
heart. Grant me, too, a heart like Yours for every sinner, that I
may be a beacon of Your care for them. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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