Becoming the father...

As is my late-evening custom, I was perusing through my books the other day looking for something to read. I felt in the mood for a rousing romp through a book on liturgy, when I felt inexplicably drawn to Henri Nouwen's "The Return of the Prodigal Son."

In the text Fr. Nouwen examines various elements of the painting by Rembrandt, which is based on Jesus' parable in Luke 15. He opens the eyes of the reader to the situations and ideologies of the younger son, the elder son, and the father. Feeling led by the Holy Spirit, I read the final chapter: "Becoming the Father." In this chapter, Nouwen offers a very gentle, yet direct, instruction to his readers: become the father.

What is meant by "become the father?" Simply put, it is to become the conduit, the extention of God. In becoming the father, we move from the floor with the younger son, begging for forgiveness, and extend our hands in love with the f/Father.

Nouwen goes on to say it is wonderful to receive grace from people, yet he exclaims how much better it is to be the one extending grace; how it is wonderful to be held and comforted, knowing you are loved, and how much greater it is to be the one holding, comforting, loving.

This requires maturity and a desire to mature even further. It requires faith, courage, and a reliance on God. Furthermore, it requires an attitude of unselfishness and generosity.

We have an opportunity to be the hands, feet, and voice of the Triune God to the world, to extend freely the love, mercy, and forgiveness that was extended to us.

"Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us." (Luke 11:3-4a)

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4)

"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." (John 20:23)

Become the father today.