Let us rejoice over the brother who repents.

People can enjoy various things and events – from winning, success, happiness… But can we enjoy the winnings, success, and satisfaction of our dear ones? And can we do it even when it comes to others, strangers? Can we also rejoice in the return of the prodigal son, brother, sister, and friend to God? On this subject, the gospel speaks when Luke emphasizes the words of the Lord Jesus: “I say unto you, Thus in heaven, there shall be greater joy over one sinner who repents… ” (Lk 15:7). Around the Lord Jesus, there were many tollbooths-customs officers and other sinners who were considered less esteemed by the Pharisees and scribes and therefore resented Christ, who pretended to be the Messiah, for meeting such people. They thought it to be pollution and were enthusing strangely. They want to tear the Lord Jesus away from his most faithful listeners. Such actions seem strange to us and also outdated. Perhaps we will say: That was then. The other group can demand tolerance; the Lord Jesus could meet with whomever He wanted.

We can therefore respond differently to the gospel text. However, when we look around, we have to admit that Phariseeism is not an outdated thing. After all, even around us, and perhaps we are ourselves, they also proceed in the same way with regard to the Church as they did with the Lord Jesus. Some accuse the Church of being too lenient with the contemporary world, while others accuse it of being too strict. Perhaps with these objections they want to erode trust in the Church. For this is also how they acted against Christ. We, too, are more or less responsible for the state of opinions. The Lord Jesus responds to reproaches with three short parables that we know very well, that are close to our hearts, and that whenever we listen to them, we feel that they touch us. In the first parable, the Lord Jesus speaks of a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them has wandered, and he is looking for her. When he finds her, he takes her on his shoulders and returns to the basket with pleasure. In the second parable, the Lord Jesus tells of a woman-housekeeper who lost one drachma. She inspects and sweeps out the whole house, and when she finds her, she summons her neighbors to rejoice with her. In the third parable, the Lord Jesus tells of a father who has two sons. One of them takes his part of the property, which he wastes, and the worried father is waiting for his return. When this son returns, he receives him with great joy. In every parable we can find a lesson for us. It is the joy that appears after moments of restlessness, searching. These three parables have something in common. God rejoices in the return of the sinner, and in the same way the Lord Jesus rejoices in this return and wants us to rejoice for the same reason. The shepherd, the housekeeper and the father of the family are equally worried, at the same time very vigilant, when they are eager to find what they have lost: a sheep, a drachma, a son.

In the same way, God treats each of us with His infinite care and great patience. Each of us can feel that the stray sheep can be ourselves. None of us is forgotten by the Lord Jesus. He patiently cares about everyone and longs for love to be healed. He does so not in the sense of humiliating us but to accept us with His care as a shepherd of His sheep. Paul the Apostle writes to Timothy, “I thank him who strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, for recognizing me as faithful and entrusting me with service, even though I was previously a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a rapist” (1 Timothy 1:12).

These words may seem excessive to us. In any case, they also concern us. After all, who among us can say that he had never experienced something like this before he met Christ, who warmly received him when we were bothered by our sins? Who among us has not felt strengthened in the remission of sins when we have realized our sin in the depths of our hearts? Whatever we think of ourselves, let us be convinced that the Lord is always with us. We must never be ashamed or afraid but, on the contrary, hope and trust in His mercy. He who hopes and draws upon God’s mercy will not be disappointed. We are all sinners, and God is willing to forgive us. Let us realize that until the end of our lives, we will need His forgiveness and will not be able to endure the good without God’s grace. This constant patience that surrounds each of us is also our joy when we come to terms with it. There are two things to be aware of from the readings: The Lord Jesus cares about us and wants to forgive each of us.

At the end of the narrative of the prodigal son, we can find another lesson: The elder brother returns from the field. When he hears music and dancing, he asks for the reason. When he finds out this is his brother’s return, he opposes the brother who squandered part of his fortune with a bad lousy, and now his father still prepares a feast for him! He, who was faithful to his father, never received anything like this from his father in return. We have a question that the Lord Jesus answers to them— come to the father rejoices at the sinner’s return? Why do you not glory but still feel touched and object that God does not consider your virtues and merits? The Lord Jesus summed it up in words he put in the father’s mouth, addressing the elder son: “… for this brother of yours was dead, and he came to life, and he was lost, and he was found” (Lk 15:32).

Why does anger appear in us at the expense of the good bestowed upon our neighbors? Those who have often changed or are returning say that the Christian community they return to does not receive them with joy but often indifferently and suspiciously. Therefore, some prefer to stay in their old place. Doesn’t all this cause turmoil for those “righteous” who think they are perfect?! To some, it seems God is interfering with them when He tells them to change their lives. They cannot stand that God can manifest Himself behind their closed group and serve others to do good. Often, evil comes from the fact that we consider ourselves more perfect than others and want to be specially marked from this motive by God’s care. We believe ourselves to be proper, valuable, and rewarding sinners who need God’s forgiveness. Can we pray for those who have done us pain and hand rm, who have offended us? If not by mouth, then at least in our hearts, do we not wish them punishment for this?

God desires that we change our attitude to sin for ourselves and those whom the Lord calls and forgives so that we can also accept ourselves. As God endows us with love, let us also give our stray brothers and sisters on their return to the basket like sheep found by the Lord. Let us rejoice as a woman with her neighbors when she saw a coin. Let us open our arms and hearts to every prodigal son, and let us not be like an elder brother who, although faithful to his father, did not treat his brother as his father wanted.

Let us arouse this intention, and we will become enriched and happier today. It will be a big win for us. It will enrich those who are returning and let them feel welcome among us, and we look forward to their return and meeting.