Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge

March 2019

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. (Gospel for Mar. 31, Lk 15:20)

My brother Knights, here we encounter upon some of the most stunningly beautiful words in the entire Gospel: the reunion of the prodigal son with his father. As Jesus describes the scene, I invite you to put yourself in three different sets of shoes. First, imagine that you are the father, seeing your own flesh and blood, your son, coming home. Second, imagine that you are the prodigal son, expecting the worst, but finding that your father is moved with compassion. Third, imagine that you are the hard-working older brother, watching this reunion from a critical distance. Becoming the man we are means that we can learn from all three: embracing others with the mercy of the father; running to our heavenly Father like the Prodigal, and with the older brother, hearing the father’s words spoken to us—that “all that I have is yours’.”

Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:

This month I challenge you to be like the Prodigal Father by making the first move: take the first step toward another person in your life to encourage or forgive them. Secondly I challenge you to prayerfully write a list of things in your life for which you are grateful.