Day 27 – The Bitterness of the Hardened Heart
Cantonese
Mandarin
English
Facing the huge damages done which required extraordinary effort to make up, the younger son could have simply chosen the easy way out by escaping from his sinful past. Instead he chose to face it head on, and to face it every day of his life in his father's house.
His father treasured all these and his son’s humility and contrite heart.
His anger confined him in the past. He could not move beyond this unresolved history. He was incapacitated by his self-righteousness and resentment.
At this point, you might also share the anger and sentiments of the elder brother, which is understandable. That is why this parable is also known as the "Parable of the Prodigal Father". But imagine what would happen if the father felt the same as the elder brother did. What would have instead happened to the younger son when he returned home? How would the story be different? And would the resulting story be a parable Jesus would use to illustrate the Father's Heart and His lavish love for us? That is something for us to ponder…
REFLECTION
Are you like the elder brother being trapped in some form of bitter past or resentment against someone?
Are you disturbed by the unfairness the father displayed towards the elder son by forgiving the wrongdoings of the younger son?
TODAY'S PRAYER
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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我常常用「自以為正義」的眼光去判斷別人，自以為是義憤填膺的「正義之士」，因而產生了許多無謂的憤恨。就像像大兒子ㄧ樣總是心中充滿抱怨！
今天的教導讓我看清了自己自大與無知，我要多多學習謙遜，把眼光放在天主身上，不看其他，只有天主！直視天主！
真愛的阿爸父，因自己的軟弱和有限未能寬恕得罪我的人。求祢賜予我力量，放下傷痛和執著。藉著你的治療，重獲自由。亞孟。
慈愛的天父，我沒有對父親對兒女公平不滿，從當初至今也甘願為主意(主基督的啓示)獻身。?♂️?大聖若瑟，請為我等祈???
If I were the younger son, it would be my self esteem that prevent me from finally arriving at my father’s house. The fear that I might not be forgiven by the father and also the scorn from the elder brother.
I do not consider the father to be unfair. Rather this incident assures me of our father’s lavish love for us. That He is always ready to forgive us and welcome us back Home.
親愛的阿爸父：以祢寬恕的神啟迪我，讓我也能夠放下過去他人曾經冒犯我的錯誤行為。主啊！請祢釋放我，讓我能重獲自由！
終於講到比喻中的大兒，這實在是聖史路加極其巧妙的筆法，讓讀者內心所產生的矛盾更加顯著。如果大家細心留意畫家林布蘭所繪畫蕩子比喻的畫作，不妨把目光放在站在父親和弟弟旁的反應和容貌，不難找到那充滿嫉妒.、憤怒、戾氣，甚或滿溢着敵意的眼神，而內心那份悲憤的感受，實筆墨可以形容的。
就故事中所描述大兒的反應，筆者實在萬分共鳴。因為筆者年少時，也曾經歷過這樣的境況。因父親疼愛弟弟，而斷言拒絕自己要求出外升學的期望。那一刻，簡直是人生最痛苦的挫敗，因為感到原來自己在父親心目中是不屑的啊！這份鬱結整整困擾了筆者四十年了。
時至今天，人漸老，經歷了人生的起起跌跌，在成長中學會放下。回想當天的這份情懷，其實只是被「嫉妒」的魔鬼所操控。而故事的大兒，相信也是被困於此，擺脫不了。
天父，感謝祢！是祢教曉我懂得放下，因為你早已寬恕了我的叛逆。求祢繼續以祢的大愛陶化，免得我再陷於凶惡中。
天父，求您幫助我。亞孟?
轉發第27天避靜心得：
站在大兒子的角度，去看父親和小兒子的這一齣戲，真的會感覺到憤怒不平。辛苦了這麼多，到頭來似乎還比不上這個浪蕩的弟弟，父親的一切好像他都得到了，但大兒子守著父親這麼久，卻如同隔著一扇鐵窗，什麼都一場空。不由得去反省這憤恨背後是什麼？雖然守著父親，中規中矩，可是心中的動機到底是什麼？是父親的家產和利益呢，還是真的在乎過父親這個人？是真的希望父親開心而任勞任怨，還是為證明自己、甚至要取代父親？大兒子的態度，真的讓人覺得不省心。他無法去同理父親和弟弟的感受，他沒有活在關係中，只看到自己。其實他跟當初的弟弟一樣心硬而疏遠著父親。他常常就是我在現實生活中的縮影。求主去除我鐵石的心腸，而換以一顆柔順馴服的心，能夠以心體心。
其實大兒子得到的父愛並沒有因為小兒子的回歸而減少，但他的內心卻希望父親減低對弟弟的愛。作為母親，我明白父母是不會因為子女的過犯而放棄他們。正如天父也不會離棄我們。
If I am the younger son, nothing will prevent me from going back the the Father as I know God is merciful. And his mercy is like an ocean. Like St. Peter, whom should I turn to except to Jesus, my Savior.