Spiritual Perspective:
‘The Rest of the Parable’

By Mary Ann Montoya
Special to The Independent

Why is it that people get caught up in having closure? From television mini-series, soap operas, movies and their sequels and even books volume on and beyond, we are ever eager to know the ending. Many people have heard Paul Harvey's radio segment, “The Rest of the Story,” and if you're an avid listener, you probably let out a sigh of relief when you hear the conclusion to a particular story he's reported.

The challenge of closure confronted me when I participated in a weekend retreat several years ago. The group in attendance included men and women of different ages, backgrounds, and cultures. Many were married with children and grandchildren.

The retreat was held in a peaceful, out-of-the-way place conducive to reflection and meditation. One of the scripture-based sessions will forever stand out in my mind. It was a soul searcher using the parable of the prodigal son. Most of us have heard this particular Gospel story countless times, but this time we were called “to go into the deep.”

The group was asked to read Luke 15: 11-32, reread it and meditate on it. We were then assigned a person to share our insights. The question was: which character did we identify with? The person who I shared with went first and gave reasons why he identified with the father. As I listened, I realized how masterful Jesus was in presenting this parable. I saw for the first time the connection from His time to our time. When he finished, I told him how I felt like I could identify with all three characters.

Sharing that I was an oldest daughter, sister to a sister and brother, and mother of three grown daughters, I proceeded to tell him how I could relate to all three. With the prodigal son, I associated with making important life decisions. He decided to ask for his inheritance while his father was still alive, left for a faraway country and took that legacy and literally threw it away on loose living. After he found himself penniless, he came to his senses and started shaping the way he was going to return home and ask for his father's forgiveness. There have been times in my life when I've made decisions that impact others. I can relate when I've fallen short and sinned against God. I know I can turn to Him and ask for forgiveness. And like the prodigal's father, God will embrace me and take me back.

As a parent, I can identify with the father. Many a parent has a prodigal child, and daughters can be just as prodigal as sons. How many parents wait for a phone call, email, letter or the sound of a vehicle coming up the driveway? In an old Funk and Wagnalls Standard International Dictionary, the last definition for “prodigality” is “bounteousness.” Isn't that what most parents have for their children? The father in the parable pulls out all the stops to celebrate  the return of his son. I know most parents anticipate and prepare for children's visits, and I know I strive to make their favorite dishes and plan special things to do. Our heavenly Father is more than bounteous when He receives us back after being separated from Him through our own sinfulness.

The son, who stayed behind with the father, is familiar to many as the designated chile who takes care of a parent when his siblings leave home. The son is angry when he learns the reason for the celebration. In verses 29 and 30, he vents his hurt and frustration with his father. The father is caught between the two sons he loves. He tries to reason with this son and begs him to come join the celebration. If children are odds, a parent knows the heart wrenching feeling that comes with attempts to bring reconciliation. I can identify with this brother because my sister left to get married right after her high school graduation. My brother-in-law was in the Air Force, so they traveled to many bases here and abroad and rarely came home to visit. My brother joined the Marines right after graduation, fought in the Vietnam War, came home, married and then moved away. I married before my brother, but my husband and I stayed closeby to my parents and his mother. Our parents always looked forward to visits from my brother and sister and their families. When Mom would tell me, "Your brother is coming,” I'd start chanting, "The prince is coming, the prince is coming."

Of course, she'd tell me off as she handed me the grocery list of all the goodies to buy for his visit. We'd have a feast of all his favorite dishes, particularly her famous red chile enchiladas and all the trimmings — our fattened calf.

The last two sentences of the parable reveal the father appealing to the son to come and rejoice over his brother's return. There's no rest of the story ending. I want an ending! I want closure! Poor father, what can he do! Does the prodigal brother come out to greet the brother he left behind? Does the disgruntled brother go in and welcome his long lost brother?

My favorite evangelist is St. Luke. I have a grandson named Luke, and I'm not suggesting changing anything in this Gospel, but this is my take on "The Rest of the Parable”: I choose a happy ending! I believe both sons loved their father in their own particular way and met at the doorway; one coming out to greet and the other going in to welcome. They met halfway to make their father happy.

As a postscript, I'd like to share what was pointed out to me by a former pastor. In his parish library hung a large print of Rembrandt's painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son. "Look at it closely, particularly at the hands," he said. I looked and looked and then he told me what had been revealed to him. With discernment, one can see one hand is feminine and the other is masculine.

Mary Ann Montoya is a member of San Rafael Parish in San Rafael, N.M. She serves as a lector, choir member, and a RCIA team member. She can be contacted via email: flordelsol45@yahoo.com.

This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues. For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.