The best robe

Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet... ~ Luke 15:22 

It's Laetare Sunday, and the call to rejoice finds its echo in today's Gospel - the parable generally known as the Prodigal Son, which is really all about the lavish, unconditional, forgiving love of the father. It's the third of three, which end with great rejoicing because something lost is found - although in the other two, the shepherd and the woman are far more proactive in their searching. This was my experience of God, 35 years ago or so, when I returned to him after several stray years: I returned, yes, but only because God came and found me; met me where I was, and brought me, with abundant joy, back home, into his Heart.

But it all ends with rejoicing; and in his homily at Mass this morning, the priest mentioned a seemingly small detail... The returned son is dressed up in the best robe - not just any robe, but the best robe. And I missed whatever might have been said during the next few minutes, while I pondered this... 

The father is under no obligation to throw a party - but he chooses to. He is under no obligation to honour his son - but again, he chooses to. The son has not come seeking any favours or status within the household, or even new clothes: all he asked for were the basic essentials of housing and food, for which he was prepared to work - and for which, too, he would be extremely grateful. The father could have left him in his shabby clothes; the son would still have been immensely grateful just to be allowed back, even as he'd have been acutely aware of his frayed and grubby appearance. Or the father could have told the servants to bring him something clean and presentable to change into, without specifying the quality - and the son would have been surprised, and immeasurably, humbly grateful. But no: the father specifies the best robe - plus a presumably precious ring, and shoes - with which he not only restores his son to his position in the family, but also showers him with love.

If the son has been prodigal with his inheritance, then how much more prodigal is the father with his open-hearted, extravagant love!

And this too has been my experience of the lavish, unconditional, all-forgiving love of God. I too have been given a ring: not one set with jewels, but a simple, silver band given at my perpetual profession; sign of my vowed commitment and consecration, and of the love which unites me to Jesus. And yes; I also have the best robe: the mantle - responsibility - of my call to know and make known this fathomless, unending love, in which I am enfolded, and in whose tender grace I can only delight, with gratitude and wonder, and the desire to love more.

And you; how do you experience this extravagant, unconditional, all-forgiving love in your life...? How do you make it known...?