Hard to Believe
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Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Final Phase
Hard to Believe
by J. Randal Matheny
A teacher explained the parable of the prodigal
son to a group of children. Afterwards, he asked
them to write a summary of the story. Here's what
one child wrote:
"A man had two sons. The youngest wasn't happy at
home, so one day he went far away, taking with him
all the money he had. When this money was gone,
the boy decided to return home, because he didn't
even have anything to eat. When he was close to
home, his father saw him and, very happy, grabbed
a beautiful staff and ran to him. On the way he
found the other son, the good son, who asked him
where he was going in such a hurry with that
staff. The father answered, 'That terrible brother
of yours has returned. After everything he's done,
he deserves a nice beating!' The son offered, 'You
want me to help you, father?' The father answered,
"Yes, I do!' So the two beat him up. At the end,
the father called his servant and told him to kill
the fattest calf to make a big feast, because
finally they managed to fulfill their wish to
punish that brainless and ungrateful son!"/1
Maybe the student was inattentive. Maybe his
little mind was a bit twisted. Or maybe he just
couldn't believe how good the story of the
prodigal son really is. (You can read the story in
Luke, chapter 15.)
Many of us can't believe it either. It sounds too
good to be true.
We can identify with the student's revised
version. But we have nothing in our experience
with which to compare the original. Because God as
Father has no equal.
A full pardon awaits the wayward son or daughter.
An anxious Father watches day and night hoping to
be able to extend complete forgiveness.
All we need to do is jump out of the pigpen and
walk home.
Forget the prepared speech. The Father has been
preparing his for a long time:
"All is forgiven!"
Can you believe that?
__________
1/ A. Cencini, Viver Reconciliados: Aspectos
Psicológicos (Paulinas, 1987), p. 89. My
translation. The author wrote that it happened to
a colleague of his.
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