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In a homily delivered during Mass on April 1, 2019, Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, Malta, commented on the parable of the Prodigal Son.
Bishop Grech referred to the story of the prodigal son and drew parallels between what happened in that family and what happens in the Catholic community. …
The younger son’s departure was akin to wishing his father in an early grave. But the father, said Bishop Grech, kept a look out for his errant son and welcomed him back with open arms. Indeed, the Jewish rendition of this episode shows that the father was as moved to see his returning son as a mother. This, said the Bishop of Gozo, is significant in that the gospel shows that the Father has a profoundly maternal love for His children. He recalled Rembrandt’s ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son’ where one hand is male and the other is female.
Bishop Grech said that there are various instances in the scriptures which describe the maternal side of the love of God. “No one more than the Virgin Mary can lead us to best discover the maternal love of God. Mary, sweet, loving, full of compassion is a reflection of the love of God and His best mirror,” concluded Bishop Grech.