“How much MORE! ”

When the Prodigal Son returned, he was hoping, he could find job as a hired worker and find  accommodation in the servant’s quarters and eat their food.  But the Father embraces him, kisses him, gives him a golden ring, the best robe,  fine sandals for his feet. The Fathers orders the fattened calf to be killed and calls for a celebration. He is received back  as son not as a slave. His place is in the house not  in the  servant’s quarters. “How much MORE the Father gives..”

The last comers in the Parable of the Vineyard hoped to get perhaps one-fourth of a day’s wages, but they were pleasantly surprised when they got a full day’s wages and they went home whistling and rejoicing  “How much MORE the Father gives…”’

In the Parable of the Banquet, those who were invited at the last moment from the lanes and by lanes hoped for the left-overs and a place outside the wedding hall but they were pleasantly surprised to be given wedding garments and seated in the wedding hall and served the choicest of food and as much as they wanted.   “How much MORE the Father gives…“

Peter asked Jesus the question, “We have left everything and followed you, what will we have?”  In reply, Jesus promised him a hundred percent in this life and everlasting life in the next. What more can we ask for? “ How much MORE the Father gives…“

Peter gave Jesus his boat for a pulpit to preach from, and in return, he got a boat full of fish. A fisherman could not have asked for more.“How much MORE the Father gives…“

The Samaritan woman gave Christ a bucket of water and in return, she got a perennial spring.  What more could she be given in a parched waterless place?  “ How much MORE the father gives…”

At Cana, the servants filled the jars with water and in place of water they got fresh new  wine, “up to the brim”. What better gift at a marriage party ? “ How much MORE the Father gives…“

At the Miracle of the loaves, a boy gave two fish and five barley loaves to Jesus and in return, he got twelve baskets full after five thousand had eaten.  “How much MORE the Father gives…“

“Give, there will be gifts for you,” Jesus says, “shaken together, pressed down, running over, will be poured into your lap.“

At the Last Supper, John and others prepared few loaves and  little wine and in return they received his Body and his Blood. “ How much MORE the Father gives…”

“One who asks ALWAYS receives, one who searches ALWAYS finds, one who knocks will ALWAYS have the door opened. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, HOW MUCH MORE, will the heavenly FATHER GIVE  to those who ask him!”   Lk.11:10-13

-        Fr T.V. George sdb