March 11, 2023
Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.
While the son was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. (Matthew 15:1-32)
ENCOUNTER: The parable of the Prodigal Son is the standard for what it means to forgive and for what unconditional love looks like. However, there is more at work here than forgiveness – there is a personal encounter – the father ran to his son.
If the story were only about forgiveness, the son could have sent a messenger to his father to say, “I realize now I have offended you, please forgive me.”
The messenger could then have returned to the son with a simple response from the father, “You are forgiven.” The shame and guilt would have been gone, but no forward movement would have occurred – that was made possible by the journey home, by the son’s personal encounter with his father.
Luke tells the story of the encounter like this: While the son was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
A face-to-face, personal encounter – the son offering true contrition and the father offering unconditional love. The relationship was restored, brought back into balance. That wouldn’t have happened with words of forgiveness alone.
It was a reconciliation story.
The words forgiveness and reconciliation are often used interchangeably. Forgiveness frees the offender of guilt and shame. Reconciliation, however, is an added step, and is essential to nurturing a relationship.
Perhaps we can think of it in this way: Think of the offender as a car going in reverse. When forgiveness is offered, the brakes are applied, and the car stops. Forgiveness has neutralized the offense. It’s good that the offender is not going backward anymore, but it’s not going forward either. Reconciliation puts the car in drive and allows it to begin moving forward. Should the car continue to move forward, conversion of heart is possible. Conversion of heart makes it less likely the offense will be repeated.
Forgiveness, reconciliation, conversion.
From the Deacon's Desk 