34th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Luke 15:1-32
Sunday Gospel Reflections by Sister Jo-Ann Flora

The gospel writers describe many situations in which Jesus is challenged by the authorities. Frequently Jesus responds with parables which, in turn, challenge the authorities’ ways of thinking. So it is in today’s Gospel passage. The Scribes and Pharisees complain that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. Jesus responds with three parables of losing and finding, of repenting and forgiving, of the sadness of loss and the joy of finding.

In these parables Jesus teaches about what God is really like by presenting three powerful images. God is like a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep in the desert to search for one lost sheep. God is like a woman who lights a lamp and searches for one lost coin until she has found it. God is like a father who keeps watch for the possible return of his young son who has left home and squandered his inheritance. This God goes to extraordinary lengths to seek and find what is lost. It could even be said that God does the unreasonable and the impractical – leaving ninety-nine sheep to wander in the desert for the sake of one, turning the house upside down to find a single coin, watching constantly for the return of a selfish and reckless son. Jesus asks the Scribes and Pharisees, and us: What man among you would . . .? What woman among you would . . .? Would I? Would you?

When I received my September issue of Living with Christ, I was very moved by the front cover and have spent some time reflecting and praying with it. For those who do not receive this publication, the painting on the cover is reproduced below.

The artist is Byam Shaw (1872-1919) and the painting is entitled The Prodigal’s Return. Perhaps some of our British Sisters have seen it in person at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth, UK. Despite the title of the painting, there is no sign of the son. The focus is entirely on the father. The expectant lean of his body, the intensity of his gaze as he surveys the horizon, the lantern to his left that suggests nightly as well as daily vigil – all reflect a “never give up” attitude.

Shaw’s painting honors the image of God in today’s third parable. This father does not rest on his patriarchal position, as the Scribes and Pharisees would have expected. He does not protect his own honor or focus on the punishment he could impose on his wayward son. He only longs, yearns, and prays for his child’s return. He is mother as well as father – a poignant image of our mother-father God who is so good.

When I have strayed, let me remember that my God is longing and yearning for me to return.

When a relationship is damaged, let me “lean” toward reconciliation.

When wholeness is restored, let me celebrate.

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

            This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sister Jo-Ann Flora

Sister Jo-Ann Flora, a native Philadelphian, entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1959 after twelve years of education at Notre Dame Academy, Rittenhouse Square. She is a member of the Chesapeake Province and resides in New York City. She holds masters and doctoral degrees in linguistics from Georgetown University and the University of California, respectively. For many years, she was a college teacher and administrator. She is an experienced spiritual director and retreat facilitator and has ministered in many spirituality centers, parishes and schools. She has just completed a sabbatical year in which she explored the relationships among spirituality, imagery, music and art, and completed training and certification as a Music Imagery (MI) facilitator. She also participated in meetings at the United Nations related to the rights of girls and women, particularly those living in poverty. On September 1, she began her new ministry as Co-Coordinator of Associates of the Chesapeake Province.