Our waiting God

On this Sunday of the Prodigal Son the Gospel of Luke leaves the story open-ended. Did the older son get over his anger and embrace his brother who came back? We’re not told. So let’s imagine one possible continuation of the story.

The older son leaves in anger and goes to the city. He’s smart, hard-working, entrepreneurial. He starts a business, it becomes very successful. He makes good money, lives in a fine home, has fine clothes and jewels and all the luxuries money could buy. But after a while, his riches did not satisfy him; they don’t fill the hole that’s inside him. He feels empty and lonely. So he leaves everything and goes back home. And there, his father, old and tired now, is waiting for his son, just as he had waited several years earlier for his younger son.

The parable gives us an image of God – our waiting God. What else is there for God to do? His work is done. It was done on the 7th day of creation. And it was done after the resurrection of his Son and Pentecost. Oh sure, he listens to our prayers. But you know what? Even there , he is waiting…waiting for us to stop playing games and pray for the right things!

Yes, dear friends. We read this parable before Lent because it teaches repentance and forgiveness. But it’s also about seeking and praying for the right things. Do you think the story of the younger son was finished with the party? Do you think the father stopped waiting for him to grow beyond the empty stomach?

And it’s about returning home. God waits. God waits for everyone. Lent is about waiting. Waiting for the light of resurrection. Lent teaches us to seek the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added.