God is Always Faithful

God is Always Faithful: 

Homily on Luke 15:11-32 - Syro Malabar, Eighth Tuesday of Elijah-Cross-Moses (First Tuesday of Moses) 15-10-2024

In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents one of the most touching stories, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It’s a story that reveals the heart of God as a loving Father who remains faithful, no matter how far His children stray. This theme is echoed in Romans 3:3-4, the first reading, where St. Paul asks, “What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means!” God is always faithful, even when we are not.

The younger son, by asking for his inheritance, essentially rejects his relationship with his father, symbolizing a profound decision to turn away from God. If you understand it in the context of the moral principles, this decision can be understood in light of the Principle of Fundamental Option. The deep and enduring orientation of a person’s life, which directs them either toward or away from God. The younger son, in this case, makes a deliberate fundamental option away from the love and security of his father’s home, choosing instead to pursue a life of selfish freedom. By rejecting the father’s love, he moves in the direction of sin, symbolizing the way in which we, too, can make a fundamental choice to distance ourselves from God through our actions. His journey to a distant country and eventual fall into poverty reflect the consequences of this choice - alienation, emptiness, and despair.

However, what is important here is not just the son’s sinfulness but his ability to recognize his mistake and turn back. Even after having made this fundamental choice, the son realizes the consequences of his actions. No matter how far we wander, God is always waiting, offering us the grace to make a new option, this time a fundamental option back toward Him.

The true focus of this parable is the father, a symbol of God’s unwavering faithfulness. Even after being rejected, the father never stops waiting for his son. He watches the road daily, hoping for his return. And when he sees him, he runs toward him, embraces him, and kisses him. He doesn’t wait for the son to beg for forgiveness, he forgives him before he can even speak. This act shows us that God's mercy is greater than our sins. St. Augustine writes: “God loves us, not because we are good, but because He is good”. The robe, ring, and sandals given to the son are signs of restoration, God doesn’t just forgive us, He restores us to full dignity. This is the kind of faithfulness that God shows: unconditional, merciful, and transformative.

Brethren, the central message of today’s parable is that God is always faithful. He does not change based on our actions or inactions. As we meditate on this parable, let us be comforted by the knowledge that no matter how far we may have gone, our Father is waiting for us with open arms. He is always faithful, even when we are not. His love and mercy are constant, and that is the foundation of our hope.