The parable of the prodigal helps us to form an idea of God’s goodness. The father of the prodigal gives us a faint idea. The extreme goodness of this father which touches us and often moves us to tears, only shows a part of God’s mercy, perhaps, the least part.
The mercy of God which ‘recovers’, but not the mercy which ‘prevents’. It is God ‘pardoning’, not ‘seeking’, the ungrateful and obstinate sinner.
Nothing captivates our hearts so much as kindness, predisposing us so much to favor anyone who bestows it. Why, then, do our hearts respond to God with such difficulty?
We love him so little because we do not know him enough? The memory of his goodness to us is seldom in our minds.
It is easy to imagine the love the prodigal son must have felt for his father who received him so tenderly and gave so generous a pardon. But our heavenly Father has a thousand times more right to our love. He has first loved us; and sought us and brought us back when we were rushing to our ruin.
If the type of God’s ‘preventing’ goodness had been complete in this parable and entirely represented in it, the father would have followed his son in his mad career. He would have sought him in that distant country where sin had led him.
He would have come to him amidst his wanderings or miseries, not to reproach him; but to beg him to return, to offer his home and possessions. To beg, press, implore him to accept them. Such is the action of that grace that may be called ‘preventing’.
Jesus Christ did not go so far in the parable, because to suppose such goodness in an earthly father would have been unreal. This goodness belongs only to our heavenly Father, in whom all is infinite.
So many great sinners who have returned to God can bear witness of this truth! Perhaps we have been conquered by the preventing grace and infinite goodness of God, or we have followed its marvellous operations in others. And we have exclaimed, in the depths of our heart, ‘The Lord is good!’
However extraordinary the excess of the divine goodness we have just considered may seem, it falls far short of the reality. No figure and no comparison can give a complete idea of it, simply because God’s goodness is ‘infinite’, and our intelligence is basically ‘finite’.
We ought, then, to admire and adore the depths of this attribute of God’s love as an impenetrable mystery which can only be believed by faith. In our conversations and instructions, let us try to make God better known. We do not do it enough; and we may be certain we only do it superficially and coldly if ever.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp688-90
The Gift of Reconciliation
The story of the Garden of Eden makes us think about the tragic consequences of rejecting the Father, which becomes evident in humanity’s inner disorder and in the breakdown of harmony between man and woman, brother and brother.
Also significant is the gospel parable of the two brothers who, in different ways, distance themselves from their father and cause a rift between them. Refusing God’s fatherly love and his loving gifts is always at the root of humanity’s divisions.
We know that God, “rich in mercy” (cf Eph 2:4), like the father in the parable, does not close his heart to any of his children. He waits and looks for them, goes to meet them where refusal of communion imprisons them in isolation and division. He calls them to gather about his table in the joy of the feast of forgiveness and reconciliation.
This initiative on God’s part is made concrete and manifest in the redemptive act of Christ, which radiates through the world by means of the ministry of the church.
Ref: Cf “Pope John Paul II, Breakfast with the Pope”, 1984, 11
Communion of the Saints -- “Live a special communion of the saints, and at the moment of interior struggle, as well as during the long hours of your work, each of you will feel the joy and the strength of not being alone.” (St Josemaria Escrivá “The Way”, 545)
The generosity of God
An ancient Oriental legend tells of a kingdom where the subjects must present a gift to the King whenever they meet him. A humble peasant one day found himself in the royal presence empty-handed. He quickly cupped a little water in his hand and made it his gift. The king was so pleased by this peasant’s respect that he gave him a bowl full of gold coins.
The Lord is more generous than all earthly kings. He has promised to reward us one-hundredfold in this life and in the life to come. (cf Lk 18:28-30) God wants us to be happy in this life.
Whoever follow the Lord with generosity will experience his peace and joy; an anticipation of Heaven. To have Jesus beside us is the best reward possible.
Let us not hesitate to give ourselves completely to Jesus. “Our Lord has a right to ask so much of you. ... put yourselves obediently and unconditionally in the presence of God, like ‘clay in the potter’s hands’ (Jer 18:6), and humbly confess to him: ‘Deus meus et omnia!’ You are my God and my all” (cf Lk 18:28-30). (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 167)
St Theresa has assured us: “If you but lift your eyes to Heaven, thinking of him, he will repay you, never fear.” (St Theresa, “The Way of Perfection”, 25, 5) The Lord is awaiting us to offer our work, the travails of daily life, our acts of service, the gift of our time and energy to others.
“... God does not measure human actions by a standard which stops at the appearances of ‘how much’ is given. God measures according to the standard of the interior values of ‘how’ one places oneself at the disposal of one’s neighbor: He measures according to the degree of love with which one freely dedicates oneself to the service of the brethren.” (John Paul II, “Address”, 10 November 1985)
St Bernard has recommended: “Entrust your small gift to the care of Mary. She will ensure that your offering is favourably received by the Lord.” (St Bernard, “Homily on Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, 18)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:535-6
• Our Lady of Port Louisa, at Milan. Tradition reports that this image received one day the homage of two angels, whom several persons saw bending the knee before it. — Astolphus, ex Hist. universal. imag. B. Virgin. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Port-Louis (Milan, Italy). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• “Madonna della Port-Louis”. Milan, Italy. 1847. Cardinal's letter (in Latin) on the 150th anniversary celebration. ... (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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