Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
On this 4th Sunday of Lent, we hear the familiar account of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32). The father figure in this parable, reveals something about the fatherly love and mercy of God. It is likely that Jesus chose this parable to counter the critical and judgmental attitudes of the Pharisees and scribes who complained about Jesus welcoming and eating with sinners.
Through the parable, Jesus reveals that God is eager, almost longing you might say, to offer mercy to His wayward children who wander far away because of sin. The father in the parable, when his wayward son finally comes to his senses and returns seeking mercy, offers an extremely enthusiastic and warm welcome to his repentant son. He orders a huge feast to celebrate the return of his son who “was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.” The father’s attitude toward his sinful son demonstrates God’s merciful heart who loves sinners and longs for them to turn from sin and come back, seeking mercy.
The Pharisees and scribes don’t seem to appreciate God’s merciful heart. They seem to demonstrate the same kind of bitterness and hardness of heart that the older son in the parable portrays. They, like the older son in the parable, are angry that sinners are shown mercy. “They’ve followed all the rules, they’ve been good”, they might say. “Why are the rule breakers and bad people being shown mercy?”
The parable reveals that God, portrayed by the father in the parable, loves all his sons, the rule-followers as well as the reckless sinners.
It is a good Lenten exercise to place yourself in the parable. Which character might you be? The wayward son? The obedient, but bitter son? Maybe you might even be the merciful father figure. Jesus tells this parable so we might know that He loves all of us and wants us to change, so we can dwell in His Father’s house forever.
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
