God's grace is more than meets the eye!

We are very familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son. It is almost ingrained in the stories that we are called to live in daily life. Yet in the midst of the reflection, we often ponder on the responses of the two brothers. Both want to possess the goods of God for themselves. The younger brother believes that he should inherit all the things of God now so that he can use them in the way that he bests see fit. The older brother sees that he will earn access to these same things only by adherence to hard work and sacrifice. Both seem to be thinking only of themselves in their relationship with the Father. They are in it for what they can get out of that relationship. They believe that they are masters of their own destiny and that life can be lived on their own terms without reference to the Father. In fact, the relationship is determined by what they want rather than any desire to be in a loving relationship with the Father. Both are prepared to see the relationship as one of slavery rather than of loved children.

The Father's relationship is profoundly different. He always comes out to meet the brothers where they are and in the limits of their understanding of how they wish to enter into that relationship. He wants to open their eyes to a deeper and more abiding relationship which celebrates how he entrusts each of us with the freedom to dwell more deeply into a life-giving response. The Father does seek us out so that we can more fully appreciate and respond to his life. This is not based just on the gifts that he has entrusted us with but on a desire that we can come to life through that relationship. The difficulty comes when we believe that the gifts we have received are God rather than the fruit of the relationship which draws us more deeply into God. This is evident in what the Father says to the brothers and others around. He does not say, "You stink" but rather "Come and Celebrate" that we can come back to life. We need to recognise those times when we try to use the gifts we are entrusted for our own good rather than for the greater glory of God and when in our obstinacy we object to God's merciful action in the life of another. We are called again and again to enter into a relationship which is at the heart of all relationships so that in all things we may give glory to God.