This Sunday, we encounter one of the most beloved and powerful stories in the Gospel—the Parable of the Prodigal Son. While we often focus on the son who squanders his inheritance and returns home in shame, or the elder brother who struggles with resentment, today I invite us to shift our gaze to the father. Many have suggested that it is not the son who is “prodigal,” but the father—because his love and forgiveness are so extravagant, even reckless by human standards.
The father’s response is outrageous. He doesn’t just forgive his son; he runs to meet him, embraces him, and restores him to full dignity with a robe, a ring, and a feast. This father, who had every reason to reject or punish, instead lavishes his love upon his wayward child. It’s a love so radical that it turns everything we know about justice and fairness on its head. This kind of forgiveness defies logic—it is grace in its purest form.
How do we bring this radical forgiveness into our own lives? This is where the wisdom from The Book of Joy, a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, offers us a way forward. In their reflections on forgiveness, they remind us that forgiveness is not about excusing the harm or denying the pain. Rather, it is a path to freedom. Archbishop Tutu, who witnessed unimaginable suffering during apartheid in South Africa, speaks of forgiveness as an act that frees both the victim and the perpetrator. He says, “Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us. We are bound with chains of bitterness, tied together, trapped.”
The Dalai Lama, who himself suffered at the hands of the Chinese and still lives in exile, echoes this sentiment, teaching that forgiveness is a gift we give to ourselves, allowing us to move beyond the wounds of the past. Their insights remind us that when we forgive—especially when it feels outrageous to do so—we imitate the father in the parable, extending grace that heals and restores.
So how do we live prodigal love today? In our daily lives, we are invited to reflect this same extravagant love. Perhaps it is with a family member who has hurt us, or a friend who has drifted away. Maybe it is with ourselves, as we struggle to accept God’s mercy for the times we’ve fallen short. Or maybe it is with God, who has taken away a loved one too soon. Forgiveness is not easy. It requires vulnerability, courage, and often, repetition. But it is the only path that leads to true freedom and lasting joy.
As we reflect on this call to forgiveness, I am filled with gratitude for the ways I have witnessed God’s grace at work in our community, especially through the remarkable retreat for our eighth-grade Confirmation candidates. Kalena Moreira, our extraordinary Youth Minister, along with Kerby Gerughty and our amazing Core Team, poured their hearts and souls into creating an unforgettable weekend for these young people. The retreat was nothing short of a mountaintop experience. It was a time when our young people encountered the living God in powerful ways—through prayer, laughter, reflection, and the witness of a loving community.
Each one of these eighth graders is as unique as a fingerprint. Their gifts, personalities, and journeys are wonderfully distinct. And yet, in the eyes of God, they are equally beloved, making them both extraordinary and ordinary. This balance between the divine and the human, the extraordinary and the ordinary, is what makes our faith so beautiful. God loves us in our uniqueness, and yet calls us into the shared reality of being His children.
As these young men and women prepare to leave our school and step into high school, they do so with a renewed sense of faith that they now claim as their own. Please keep them in your prayers in the weeks and months ahead. May the seeds planted during this retreat continue to grow, and may they always know that they are held by the extravagant love of the Father, who runs to meet them wherever they are.
As we leave Mass this weekend, I invite each of us to consider where we are being called to embody the prodigal love of the Father. Who in our lives needs to experience the freedom of forgiveness? How can we extend mercy that restores, even when it feels undeserved? And perhaps, most importantly, can we allow ourselves to be embraced by that same reckless love—knowing that God runs to meet us, no matter how far we’ve strayed?
May we have the courage to be as prodigal in our love and forgiveness as our Father in heaven. And may the joy of that forgiveness lead us all to deeper freedom and peace.
Finally, I want to offer a heartfelt reminder to support our Annual Diocesan Appeal if you have not already done so. Our goal is to complete this appeal before Holy Week, and your generosity makes a significant impact. Every dollar we raise over our goal will go to support our beloved partner parish, Christ the King. I am overjoyed to share that Fr. Hector has completed his immunotherapy and has responded miraculously to treatment. By God’s grace, he is expected to return to his parish community for Holy Week. What a blessing! Let us offer him a profound gift of support by exceeding our goal.
I am excited to announce that we have received a $25,000 matching gift! Every dollar raised over our goal will be matched up to $25,000 and directed to Christ the King. This is an incredible opportunity to multiply our impact. Please prayerfully consider making your contribution today. Together, we can offer our brothers and sisters a tangible sign of our love and solidarity. You can give online HERE
Thank you for your generosity and continued prayers.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan