God Never Gives Up

Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal  Son

The word of God carries us back to the thirteenth century before Jesus. On Mount Sinai, Moses is conversing with God like a friend, praying. But at the base of the mount, the Hebrews, just liberated from their oppressors in ancient Egypt, are breaking the covenant they just renewed with God, by worshiping replicas of false gods.

Sometimes, we create idols—money, power, status. We forget who we are—mere creatures totally dependent upon an all-good Creator. Moses intercedes for the people in prayer and asks God to forgive them for their wrongdoings. And God does! The author challenges us not only to ask God for forgiveness but also the grace to live a life worthy of our calling.

St. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, confesses he fiercely persecuted Christians; he was the worst of sinners. And yet God graced him, to become one of the greatest evangelizers in Christianity. Paul challenges us to be grateful to God.

In the Gospel, we have the famous parable. The younger son asked for his inheritance and then squandered it. Then he “came to his senses.” An incredible phrase! He realizes his true identity as a beloved son. He wants to be in a good relationship with his father, who unconditionally forgives and loves him and gives him a welcome-home party. The story emphasizes God’s unconditional love for us.

This parable may move us to ponder forgiving someone who has wronged us. If we can’t seem to forgive on our own, pray for the grace to participate in the forgiveness of Jesus, who pardons those who are truly sorry and try to start their lives afresh. The parable invites us to see ourselves in the characters. Are we the forgiving parent? The repentant younger son? Or the resentful older son?

Let me illustrate forgiveness with a favorite book of mine, The Hiding Place, in which the author, a concentration camp survivor, describes how she lectured in post-war Europe about the need to forgive one another. After one of her talks, a former SS guard came up to her. She recognized him. Suddenly, she remembered the laughing guards, the heaps of clothes on the floor, the frightened face of her sister. And so, when this repentant person extended his hand, she began to have angry thoughts. Then she remembered: Jesus Christ died for this man and forgives him. “Lord Jesus,” she silently prayed, “forgive me and help me to forgive him.”

She tried to smile, to raise her hand. But she couldn’t. Again she breathed a silent prayer: “Jesus, I can’t forgive him for what he did to my sister and so many other people. Give me your forgiveness.”
Christ doesn’t ask us to forgive on our own. He simply asks that we participate in his gift of forgiveness. Forgiveness is possible when we trust in God to bring forgiveness and healing and reconciliation. God never gives up on us.