Page 4 • Faith Today
ON PILGRIMAGE
f/7 “The history of salva-
ffi\ tion — the history of
humanity as well as of
fj every human being of
0 whatever period — is the
fj wonderful history of a
ff reconciliation: the recon-
J/ ciliation whereby God, as
a Father, in the blood and the
r cross of his Son made man,
reconciles the world to himself
and thus brings into being a new
family” (Pope John Paul II in his
1984 apostolic exhortation on
reconciliation and penance).
One character in the parable
of the Prodigal Son is almost
lost from view — the elder
brother of the young man who
returns home after a long
absence.
Some readers identify with the
parable’s father figure. His
jubilation at the return of his
younger son explodes before their
eyes. The father is the welcome
image of one who realizes that
this reunion — and every
similar one — is cause for
celebration.
Other readers identify with the
prodigal son himself. They
recognize his disappointment at
what the pope called the “emp
tiness of the mirage” he had
found so fascinating, his sense of
being “alone, dishonored, ex
ploited” when he tried “to build
a world all for himself.”
The prodigal son represents
every human being. But so, in a
most interesting way, does his
elder brother.
Pope John Paul II wrote of this
in his 1984 message on penance
and reconciliation. He pointed to
the elder brother in the parable as
one who illustrates how important
yet complex the task of reconcilia
tion within the human family can
be.
The elder brother is temperate
and hard working, faithful to
father and home. Refusing to join
in the banquet celebrating his
brother’s return, he is “too sure
of himself and his own good
qualities, jealous and haughty, full
of bitterness and anger.” His
father’s kindness and mercy “ir
ritate and enrage him,” the pope
wrote.
In this story, the “selfishness
which divides the brothers...
becomes the story of the human
family.” Yet, the pope says, it
must be recognized that to the ex
tent that the elder brother “is not
converted and is not reconciled
with his father and brother, the
banquet is not yet fully the
celebration of a reunion and
rediscovery.”
The story is a reminder of the
need for transformation if recon
ciliation is to be achieved. “There
can be no union among people
without an internal change in
each individual,” the pope wrote.
Reconciliation, he says, is the
result of conversion — a true
change of heart.
Easter witness
By Janaan Manternach
NC News Service
ary grew up in the
town of Magdala,
on the shore of
the Sea of Galilee,
not far from
Tiberias and
Capernaum.
She grew up like all the Jewish
girls in her town. She learned to
help her mother and to cook and
sew. She enjoyed going with the
women to the town well to draw
water and talk. Her parents taught
her to pray. She celebrated the
Jewish Sabbath and feasts with her
parents at home and in the local
synagogue.
As a young woman Mary began
hearing stories about a remarkable
man named Jesus. She learned that
he was living not far away in
Capernaum. She wanted very much
to meet him. She was not just
curious, but she had suffered all
her life from a sickness the local
doctors could not diagnose. It may
have been a form of epilepsy. She
hoped that Jesus might help her.
Easter
Fun
Color the pic
tures. Then
draw an Easter
picture of your
own.
Then one day she met Jesus. He
felt very sorry that Mary suffered
so much and he healed her. People
said he drove seven devils out of
her.
Mary became one of the
followers and friends of Jesus and
traveled with him and his disciples
from town to town. She loved to
listen to his preaching and to talk
with him. She did whatever she
could to help Jesus.
Even when people began to turn
against Jesus, Mary was among
those who stayed with him. She
went with him to Jerusalem, know
ing how dangerous it was to be a
friend of Jesus. She knew his
enemies were plotting to kill
him.
When Jesus was crucified, Mary
stood beside him until the very
end. Then she helped prepare
Jesus’ body for burial and went
with the mother of Jesus and some
other friends to mourn. Mary was
very sad. She prayed and cried un
til early Sunday morning.
As the sun was rising, Mary ran
to the tomb with some other
women to anoint his body with
•,y*
perfumed oils. But they found the
tomb empty.
They were frightened. Mary
stayed crying outside the tomb.
Suddenly she felt the presence of
someone behind her. She turned
around and saw a man she thought
was the gardener. “Please tell me
where you have carried the body
of Jesus,” she begged him.
The man answered, “Mary.”
Then she knew it was Jesus! He
was alive! He had risen from death!
“Rabbouni” (meaning “teacher”),
she cried out.
A few minutes later Jesus left
her. She ran back to tell the other
disciples that she had seen Jesus
alive. She was the first person to
see Jesus after his resurrection.
Later Mary became an important
woman in the first Christian com
munities. The church honors her as
St. Mary Magdalene on July 22.
(Ms. Manternach is the author of
catechetical works, scripture stories
and original stories for children.)
What do you think?
□ Why is Easter a great day for the people of the church?
What can make Easter special for you?
From the bookshelf
In Flight of the Sparrow by Julia Cunningham, a 10-year-old orphan
is befriended by Mago who gives her the name “Little Cigarette.”
He shares his world, the streets of Paris and the people in it, both
good and evil, with her. And he gives her the courage to survive. But,
in one instance, she hurts someone. She steals a valuable painting
from Michel, an artist who has helped her. After stealing, she flees
Paris and her friend Mago to try and make things right. This is a power
ful story in which life ultimately overcomes death. (Pantheon Books
Inc., 201 E. 50th St., New York, N.Y. 10022.1980. Hardback, $6.99.)
