0
0
Meditation for the 4th Sunday of Lent, year C2
Introduction
Ah, those Pharisees! Nothing, they just scandalized his ways. And he eats with the tax collectors, and this with the visiting sinners, and this with the public sinners, he allows himself to wash his feet and sprinkle with oil … And this eats ears on the Sabbath and allows the disciples, even heals them on the Sabbath! In addition, he does not wash his hands before eating … He ostentatiously disregards the Law! He blatantly condemns himself when dealing with damnable people!
Jesus does not respond directly to these murmurs. It tells a story …
THREE OF THESE. ( drama in five acts )
People of drama
1. Younger son: Easygoing, reckless, impatient: he always had to try everything for himself. He must have cut himself, burned himself, and smashed his knees. Curious about the world. What a backyard? Behind the field? Out of town? Abroad?. Currently bored: garden, field, house, cowshed; breakfast dinner supper. Father pushes; older brother is smarting up. Unbearable!
2. Elder son: Realist: obedient, punitive, hard-working, reliable, responsible. If he ever dreamed of traveling and adventures – he told the dream to be silent. If he ever wanted to party with his friends – he forgot about it carefully. Irresponsible jerk irritates him. He works persistently and conscientiously for two with a suppressed sense of grief and hurt.
3. Father: Incarnate love. She loves both.
D R A M A T ( action outline )
Act one:
The younger son demands his share of the property.
The father is distributing the inheritance to both sons equally.
Younger runs away with money into the world and takes the adventures he wants, exhausting cash.
Elder systematically works on the economy.
Act Two:
Younger son in a distant country. Not a penny left. He hires to work as a pig shepherd. And there is a crisis and the boy does not get not only a salary, but even no food. The memory of the father’s house with regular meals becomes irresistible. It’s just that fear and shame to come back like that with nothing… But the hunger prevails. He’s on his way back.
Elder son works diligently in his father’s field. Father is waiting.
Act three:
Younger son near home; in rags, dirty, hungry. He is afraid of meeting his father. He’s been trying to appease him here to get even dinner! He makes a humble welcome speech, apologies and pleas.
The elder son works hard.
Father goes out – and waits.
Act Four:
CONCLUSION
Father sees a ragged figure … That’s him! He runs to meet and, not listening to the gibberish about slavery and unworthiness, grabs the boy in his arms and cries, hugs him, happy!
Younger son – in shock. Let’s sum up: He let everything go. He dragged himself back because he was starving. He stood in front of his father, terrified: ashamed, scared, and stripped. He was ready for any punishment. And here – surprise! A father’s love, which asks nothing, is anticipatory and completely unconditional, has no dam – it breaks the infantile and selfish shell; an unexpected hug like a sudden blow opens a filial, immature heart. Affected and even struck by love, he begins to love himself. Instead of a heart of stone, he got a heart of flesh. He was dead, and thanks to love he was brought back to life. He’s crying too.
The elder son busy working in the field didn’t notice the younger one coming back
Act five ( Ending one ):
scene I
A feast. Music, fun!
Younger son, Dressed up like a prince, he sits next to his father and with emotion he swallows his food with difficulty (although he was starving) along with tears of happiness. Finally, a wild joy bursts in him, he laughs through his tears and dances!
Father hugs him, laughs and cries alternately, and finally claps him to the beat! He’s crazy with joy. Everyone present is happy!
The elder son is absent because he works in the fields late.
Scene II
Elder son , tired, returns from the field. He comes to an unexpected, boisterous party in honor of his brother-brother. Shocking! All the dams he imposed on his needs and desires are bursting; bitter, hateful regret, a poisonous sense of injustice flooded his heart. Would he sit down to the table with that rascal? To dinner in his honor? Never!
Father goes out to him and invites him as if he doesn’t understand anything. So the elder exclaims at him in pain, “It’s not fair!” It’s a bastard! So much of my sacrifices, work, fidelity and no reward! You never gave me anything! I couldn’t even invite my friends! And this bastard, slacker, selfish, lanky, he let everything he gave him fornication, and what? Instead of punishment, you gave him such a holiday ?! I don’t care so much about justice!
Cries … Out of anger and self-pity.
Younger son dances around the house and doesn’t know anything.
Final (Second and last ending):
Father (to the older son, hugging him) : – Sonny, I have always loved you and I love you as much as him! See, I was so scared I’ll never see him again! And he is back! There is! Is alive! You were always with me, and what was mine was yours! You are at home after all! My son, enjoy your time with me, we are all together again!
The younger son dances at home in a drunken joy.
Elder son…
CURTAIN
Jesus has finished his story.
So what? muttered the Pharisees? After all, the older son was right, the father was not fair. The young one owes himself! He should face the consequences! It is very uneducational what the father did. This, my rabbi, is called blind, even stupid love.
APPENDIX
Great Speech of the Pharisees
Learn from us. We have decent, caring institutions – social welfare. We deal with alcoholics, the homeless, the unemployed and their children, who are begotten irresponsibly by these abusers. Everything classified, everyone has a certificate whether they can get dinner, shoes, blanket or not; sometimes one has to live with the other outside, or in a tin shed. It’s sad, we understand, but you will admit it, rabbi – they are to blame for themselves. They have doomed themselves to this fate, so it’s hard for us to hug them and throw gifts. And so we do more than we should because we are merciful. We place their children in warm orphanages where they have 3 meals a day. There we teach them order, discipline and responsibility. Unfortunately, a bad tree bears bad fruit and we often have to call guards to the kids, and even transfer them (of course, preferably with a chain) to penal centers. You ask how old are they? Various: 11,12,13. So what, not much, what about the fact that they are deprived of parents, then what about the tough rules in orphanages! And they – how do they behave? They will coax! Without permission, they fly to their parents to give them their breakfast – state, communal breakfast! They use vulgar words to address their guardians! They run away! They steal (it doesn’t matter that a packet of Lays – theft is theft!)! So? They must learn to be accountable for their actions. God likes what we do, because He loves the righteous. And we are fair. And wisely merciful. Learn from us, rabbi.
And they stayed with theirs.
* * *
Love crushes the hearts of those who are ready for it. Who have been pulled out of blissful complacency and self-perfection. Who have realized that they cannot deserve this love. They cannot plead for her. They can only fall at her feet, aware of their dirt, poverty and hunger. Then a miracle happens!
But let’s hope that the older son and the righteous Pharisees – maybe not immediately, maybe not yet – will understand why the father in the story did this. Let us hope that the armored hearts of all self-righteous, ruthless ascetics without love, martyrs of duty – will crumble and soften under the influence of the Greatest Love. That also their hearts, enveloped and cuddled with Love, will be won; they will stop making the cold sound of clanging cymbals, and will begin to pulsate with the steady rhythm of hot, living blood. That they too would get rid of the treacherous wound, the suffocating sense of injustice and, above all, an unwavering sense of their own justice and order; that someday they too will come in, cry over the child who steals bread, sit down at the table and feast – together with the homeless, unemployed and even alcoholics ….
But let’s hope that they too, while still dead, will come to life.
Sunday Considerations
Number of views:
7
