WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD During the days of the Civil War in America, a guard was caught sleeping on duty. For that, he was sentenced to death. When Pres. Abraham, Lincoln heard about it, he himself talked with the guard and ordered the penalty be commuted. * * * His generals complained, but the president’s decision remained. Because of the compassionate gesture, the soldier did his best from then on, and proved to be an exceptionally diligent, conscientious soldier. * * * That true story might well illustrate the over bending compassion of the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15, 11-32) in this 4th Sunday of Lent. Bible scholars say that the Parable of the “Prodigal Son” is a misnomer. It should be called the parable of the "Prodigal Father” because the whole story depicts the lavish love of the father on his errant son. * * * This love begins when the father reluctantly yielded to the wish of his son who insisted to be free by getting his inheritance and breaking away from home. Although the father knew the danger that lay ahead, he let him go. This gives us an insight into God's love: for love to be true it must be freely given; it cannot be forced. * * * After the profligate son had spent all his patrimony in "loose living," he was despondent, broken, abandoned. In order to keep body and soul together, the impoverished lad had to work in a piggery feeding swine. Then the son came to his senses. For the first time he realized what a big mistake he had made. He says to himself, "I will rise and go to my father." So, he returned home. What did the father do when he saw him coming? The father ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him. * * * The loving father in the story represents God and the wayward son is every sinner, that is, us. Christ is saying that after even the most grievous of mistakes or the most degrading of sins, God is always waiting for us and, with open arms, will take us back. In the words of Pope Francis: “God never gets tired of forgiving us. It is we who get tired of asking forgiveness from Him.” * * * CONDONING SIN? Some of you may object to the Father’s lavish treatment of the errant son as condoning his wrongdoing. Jesus’ parable conveys that, just as a particular child who’s sick needs extra special care and love, so a son who goes astray or is morally dead needs special care and attention. Thus, the father’s justification: “We have reason to celebrate because your brother was dead but has returned to life.” * * * As we enter deeper into the season of Lent, let us avail of the opportunity to return to our "prodigal Father.” All that’s needed are the acceptance of our failings, confessing them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and renewing our life. The effect of forgiveness is a deep sense of joy, relief and peace of soul. * * * The lighter side. In trying to highlight the fact that the older brother in the above parable was unhappy about the return of the wayward brother, a religion teacher asked: "Who was the most unhappy when the prodigal son returned?" A boy raised his hand and blurted out: "Ma'am, the fattened cow--because it was slaughtered for the homecoming!" * * * ‘7 Last words.’ The SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc. will telecast on ABS-CBN (Kapamilya Channel) the “7 Last Words” on Good Friday, April 15 at 12noon-3 p.m. Join us at the Divine Word Shrine in Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Blvd., Q.C. * * * By the way, we sent out solicitation letters for advertisement placements and donations for the TV program. May we hear from you? Call Brian Deguito at tel. 8723-3343 or e-mail me at [email protected]. * * * FAMILY TV MASS--is aired on TV5 One Sport Channel 59, Free TV Ch. 41 at 6-7 a.m. every Sunday and 11 A.M. and 5 P.M. Sunday at “MCFI SVD Media” Account on YouTube and Facebook Page. Presider: FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD.