4th Sunday of Lent

In the first reading, the people of Israel celebrated the Passover, remembering how God, with signs, wonders and outstretched hands, delivered and liberated the people of Israel from slavery and bondage from Egypt. The Psalmist declared: “When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. When the people of Israel called from Egypt, the Lord heard and saved them.” 

Similarly, when the prodigal son came back home calling, the father who actually is GOD in the story, welcomed him back and saved him. We are all familiar with this story that is appropriate for our Lenten spiritual journey. In the culture and tradition of the Israelites, children have rights to inherit the properties of their parents. But it’s expected that they be patient and wait till the death of their parents. But the young son misused his freedom and prematurely requested for his portion of the properties. The father respected his freedom. The son put his hopes in property, wealth and worldly pleasures but these will not satisfy him. As St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in God.” He went away and mismanaged all that was given to him and after coming to his senses, he decided to go home and confess his sins. For leaving and rejecting the comfort and security of his father’s house, he paid for it. Let’s never leave the comfort, love and security of God in the Church. Never walk away from the BODY OF CHRIST the Church.

We sometimes behave like this son. We think we are wiser than God. We walk away from the sight of God in disobedience, wasting our life and resources until we discover the futility of our decisions and actions. The father welcomes the son and even celebrates him. This is all about the abundant mercy and compassion of God spoken about eloquently by St. Paul in our second reading. Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. The old things have passed away. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them. 

The father did not count the sins of the prodigal son. He was filled with compassion. He ran to him and embraced him. The son played his part, he confessed his sins. We would be right to say he went to confession. 

That is what it is expected of us during this Lenten season, to go to Confession. As Catholics, it is expected that we go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter in order to celebrate our Passover with clean, pure and holy hearts for a worthy celebration. Don’t worry about your past, God is not interested in your past. The elder son was at home, but it's clear that his heart was not free from sin. He was jealous and self-centered and resentful. He too needs the mercy and compassion of God. As Christians, we must never be jealous, selfish or hate any person. 

This story teaches us that we have a merciful and compassionate father who through His Son our savior, Jesus Christ, wants us to come to him and be reconciled. For CHRIST is our Savior and hope.