Praying with Images: The Prodigal Son

“To Err is Human; to Forgive, Divine.” ~ Alexander Pope 

Click here to read the Parable of the Prodigal Son

I don't know about you, but I find the concept of infinite love and mercy challenging to comprehend fully. I understand on a fundamental level that God possesses these qualities, but removed from my lived experience, I can't fully grasp them. Whenever someone does wrong by me, I often cling to the bitterness and anger for dear life. Even if I love them immensely, I can still experience this frustration with those closest to me. It almost seems impossible for people to let transgressions slide right off like water.   

This difficulty in forgiving others or believing God will genuinely forgive us is part of many lessons connected to the parable of the Prodigal Son and what makes it a perfect image to contemplate for Lent. The Parable of the Prodigal Son isn't just a story about a deadbeat, entitled son apologizing to his old and kindly Father; this parable helps us to understand the slightest sliver of God's depth of mercy, and it tells this through the love of a parent for his child. 

Lessons from the Prodigal Son  

This painting of the Parable of the Prodigal Son tells many stories and unfolds many lessons Jesus conveys to us in the story. What's most striking for me is the father's movement to the son. In the parable, we are told how the father rushes to the son while he is still a long way off, but the artist of this painting puts that into an even clearer perspective. While the son isn't quite as far away as he is in Jesus' telling of the parable, he has still stopped before the threshold of his father's house. 

The son is sorry for his wrongdoing; he returns to his father on his knees, begging for forgiveness. The son's stopping at the threshold shows how contrite he truly is. He doesn't even see himself as worthy of stepping foot in his father's house. This moment, however, is where the father's love becomes powerfully evident.  

Rather than waiting for his son to complete his journey back, the father rushes to his son with open arms. He immediately wraps him up in a big bear hug at the simple joy of seeing his son return. What we witness between the father and the son in this parable and illustrated in this image is that God the Father has a deep, forgiving, persevering, and unquenchable love for us. Despite our shortcomings, our failings, and our rejections of God the Father, just one step back toward Him, and He will rush to us like the father in the parable. 

Praying with Images (Visio Divina)

Images often tell an entire story — one intended or the one only our hearts can see. The artist pours imagination, emotion, and a peek into a particular moment into the masterpiece. Artful depictions of the life of Christ offer families a unique opportunity to participate in discussions of faith that can engage all generations. From the youngest member of one's family to the oldest, everyone can look upon the beauty of art and share what they see and how it makes them feel. 

Visio Divina, or "sacred seeing," is an ancient form of Christian prayer that utilizes the imagination to enter into prayer. Visio Divina is an effective method of praying for families looking to begin or deepen a practice of family prayer in their homes. We recommend starting your time with these images, calling upon the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion. Your prayer can be as simple as, "Come, Holy Spirit," or you may wish to recite or write a longer one, such as:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.

Use this short reflection as a way to enter into a meaningful discussion on the powerful story of God's mercy and forgiveness through the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We pray your family is truly blessed by your time together immersed in the beauty of the art, these words, and your precious time with each other.

Stephen Driscoll is a recent Stonehill graduate and works with Holy Cross Family Ministries as Family Rosary Mission Assistant. He studied History and Theology at Stonehill and still enjoys learning as much as possible about both subjects. Stephen is an ardent Bruins fan and a lover of all things New England.