“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Reflections on the readings for Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 27, 2022): JOS 5:9,10-12; PS 34:2-3,4-5,6-7; 2 COR 5:17-21; LK 15:1-3,11-32
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The parable of the Prodigal Son introduces a younger son who insists that his father hand over his inheritance even though he has no right to it.
On this Fourth Sunday in Lent, we celebrate Laetare Sunday as we rejoice in drawing closer to Easter. Both Old and New Testament readings affirm God’s immense mercy for His people. In the Gospel, Christ Himself describes the generosity God reveals in spite of our focus on self and personal satisfaction. Too often such attitudes describe our actions and our lives. The parable of the Prodigal Son introduces a younger son who insists that his father hand over his inheritance even though he has no right to it. We see that the young man is prodigal -- a thoughtless wastrel intent on a dissolute lifestyle. But when he finds himself poor, starving, and alone, he goes home, hoping to be taken on as a servant. That’s when a very different meaning of the word prodigal is shown in the father. The father is lavish, even extravagant, in his kindness and generosity to his younger son who has shown himself unworthy. More than that, the father shows the elder son who is thinks so highly of himself the true meaning of love and mercy.
The elder son refuses to attend the party for his younger brother and angrily tells his father: “‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; He was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:29-32). The father wants him to understand the importance of his brother’s return. He also wants him to appreciate just how much he means -- and has always meant -- to him. Both sons were so focused on themselves and their wants, their plans, that they never recognized the overwhelming love of their father. He saw their mistakes and their pride. But His compassion, the compassion of our loving God, is always stronger than our foolishness. If we accept it.
Suggested missionary action: Let us rejoice and celebrate this Laetare Sunday by meditating on our God-given blessings. And we can offer a special prayer of thanksgiving for the mercy with which He lovingly embraces us each day.
