Stories We Tell

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Father Mark began by recounting the familiar parable of the prodigal son, highlighting the boldness of the younger son’s request and the immense grace of the father who grants it. After squandering his inheritance, the son returns in shame, expecting rejection, but instead finds unconditional love and forgiveness. The father’s joyful embrace and celebration signify God’s boundless mercy and desire for reconciliation.

The older brother, however, responds with resentment, believing he has been treated unfairly. He sees himself as a dutiful servant rather than a beloved son, distorting his view of the father’s generosity. Father Mark explained how both brothers told themselves stories that shaped their perceptions — one of unworthiness, the other of self-righteousness — while the father’s story was one of unwavering love and belonging.

Father Mark encouraged the congregation to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about God, others, and ourselves. Are these stories rooted in truth and grace, or are they skewed by our fears, biases, or pain? During this Lenten season, he invited us to listen for God’s story — a story of forgiveness, acceptance, and joy — and to embrace it as our own.

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Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.