This Sunday we hear three parables in one. The parable of the lost sheep, 
the parable of the lost coin and the Prodigal Son.
The third and most famous story captured my imagination last night. I’ve been a bit disappointed with some early events in my ministry and the way things are going in general. I went to a “neighborhood welcome event” sponsored by UB the other day and didn’t see as many students there as I hoped. What’s more is that I kept getting asked “How was the big move to the North Campus?” –a reference to my colleagues and their move from their small quarters in the North Campus Commons to their brand new Newman Center. It seems that most of our campus colleagues think that our South Campus Newman Center has also moved. It’s nobody’s fault that they have that perception, but it’s frustrating to think that nobody’s noticed that we’re here, right next door and haven’t moved out. Some of the students seemingly have the same perception.
I’m clearly the Prodigal’s Brother. “Waaaaaaah! Why doesn’t anyone notice me?” The sad thing is that I love my colleagues and don’t like feeling this way. It’s stupid for me to have a bit of jealousy for their building, especially when I have much work to do in establishing a presence on the campus I serve.
Perhaps there’s more practical reasons for these misconceptions. There’s not exactly good signage for our center anywhere. I’m not exactly all that visible on the campus just yet either. It’s also the start of a new semester and sometimes things just take time with all the things that students and faculty are engaged in. The publicity for the new center, has been great press for Campus Ministry and for the school to be pushing that there’s a new Catholic center on a secular campus–that’s a great testament to the respect that they have for our work. And lastly, it’s been a long time since any campus minister has even been around this campus–they didn’t have a campus minister for some time on the South Campus, so essentially it’s as if UB has TWO new Newman Centers–a brand new one on North and the one that has gone unnoticed on South.
Perhaps my lesson is with the Father of both brothers. He runs with compassion to meet his long, lost son and embraces him. A second, less noticeable fact also exists: the Father runs out to the second son as well–when he refuses to come into the party– and he pleads for him to come in and join the celebration.
We don’t know what the second brother does. He may be moved by the father’s plea and he may also choose to wallow in his own bitterness.
That’s the question that’s put to all of us.
The older brother does a lot of things but can’t stand that the younger brother has done everything wrong and is now getting all of the attention. It wasn’t enough that he was going to get all that the Father already had–he wanted all the accolades too. I think that’s one of my weaknesses too. I seemingly have to work on not worrying about how things look and simply build what will be a great inheritance for the students here for years to come.
For other “older brothers” out there: If we don’t like our situation, then we can choose to change that. We can run with compassion for those who we serve. We can stay out in the field working or we can notice that there’s a party going on for someone (a fact that seemingly the older brother is oblivious of until he hears all the noise). And we can stop blaming situations and misunderstandings for our own lots in life and actually move into a more healthy space of doing what it is that we all are gifted to do.
Today please pray that I too, can come in from that field and join the party without resentments. Pray for our students who need a lot of services and are beginning to find that there’s a lot offered to them on not only one, but two campuses. And pray for my colleagues, Fr. Pat, Katie and Debbie that their transition to their new digs will be fruitful and may grow joyfully and may we all continue to work together for the benefit of the students we serve.
May I be able to run with compassion to those who look to me for comfort and may I be blessed with a heavenly Father who welcomes me home each time I too, run away from where God is leading me.
Credit: British artist Charlie Mackesy. Charlie does some amazing stuff that you can check out on his website.