The Roman Catholic Lectionary today returns to the parable of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke. The texts from Micah and Psalm 103 prepare us as we hear the description of God as mercy, compassion and steadfast love. The parable and our experience indicates that this love is not dependent on our behaviour. The Creator has gifted us with free will. God does not override our free will even when the consequence of our decisions may lead to personal and social suffering. The youngest son in the parable chooses to leave his father's house, requests and is given his inheritance, and pursues his desire for to please himself in an attempt to satisfy a hunger deep in his being. In the madness of his journey he encounters poverty and physical hunger. Perhaps he was repentant as he turned home or maybe he was just hungry but "while he was still a long way off" his father saw him and ran to him. The hint of the depth of the love of God from the prophet and psalmist today is turned to the miraculous movement of the father to the son as an example of the movement of the Divine toward the seeker. Our choice is to move toward God and be open for His response. We are still in our sin and we are not sure of our motivation to return. The Father rushes toward us to reclaim us as His child. Too Much!
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