You Are Forgiven

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from March 18, 2007

"My son, you are here with me always;everything I have is yours." Luke 15:31

The gospel story is about a family sharing an inheritance. When my mother died, our family marked her passing with a community wide celebration filled with love and faith. But when her jewelery box was opened, a civil war broke out!

Earlier my parents had shared the family business with three sons. The third son labored with my father in the milling business making Creedon's Viking Pig Meal. It was a working relationship with an expectation of ownership. I assume my father had the same understanding as the father in today's gospel, "..everything I have is yours." That may have been satisfactory for my brother, but not his wife, who likes things more clear cut. So, this brother went on strike. The timing was not ideal. My father had recently returned from the hospital suffering a heart condition. Within a few days all the siblings seemed to line up against the brother. "How could he do this? At this time?" Within a week my father had overcome his reluctance. He took his prized possession, the mill, and handed it over. He never expressed the least resentment and had a unique relationship with that brother, whom he treated more like his own brother than a son.

Parents teach us how to offer acceptance.

A priest friend of mine tells another similar story. He has many brothers who were straight arrows, good students who worked hard. His Polish father was loving, hardworking, strict, and counted his pennies. The youngest brother went off to college, had a good time, did poorly in his tests, and ran up bills for recreation on his father's credit card. He began to communicate less with his family, except though for the requests for payment. After a long absence, he was due home on the same Sunday when this Gospel was read. The father had been working late. He may have been sleeping though the reading of the scriptures in church. The family waited for the knock on the door. The father buried himself in the newspaper. In the silence the tension mounted. Finally the brother burst in. The father gently lowered the newspaper and announced, "The prodigal has returned." To which the son replied, "Dad, where is my party?" His dad smiled, "You have had your party." And that was the end of that.

Mothers as well as fathers show us how to forgive. All of us are called to mirror the father's forgiveness. "And all of this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation....So we are ambassadors for Christ." 2 Cor 5:17-21

We know that priests have a special role in forgiveness. For that reason many priests will be available on April 2nd for our parish Rite of Reconciliation. Please come. Yet, St. Paul is not using the royal "we". Reconciliation is not reserved for apostles or clergy. All of God's people need to offer signs of God's abundant grace. Copiosa apud eum redemptio. The oil displayed before the altar serves as a reminder that our Lenten journey leads us to the renewal of baptism, when we were christened with the olive oil of priesthood. Before we come to the Lord's table, the congregation is called to turn to one another to offer a sign of peace. There is no peace without pardon, mercy and forgiveness. Today, instead of "Peace of Christ," you may startle your neighbor by saying, "You are forgiven."

The older brother had trouble forgiving his brother's sexual sin, not realizing the sinfulness of his own arrogance and resentment. The father forgives both sons. Let us rid ourselves of our reluctance to trust the extravagant and bountiful grace of God.