Cycle A - Cycle B - Cycle C
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 34
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
-Luke 15:32
Today's gospel, in which we hear the parable of the prodigal son, reminds us how much our God loves us. An inheritance is given upon a person's death to those who remain. In taking his inheritance from his father, the prodigal son was telling his father that he wished he were dead. The lost son was so caught up in the direction that he wanted to take that he was ready to burn the bridges in his life and start anew. "I wish you were dead. I'm leaving you. Give me what is rightfully mine." We say this to God, Our Father, all the time. Each time we choose sin, we choose ourselves selfishly, we say to God, "I wish you were dead."
What does the father do? Does the father become angry and condemn his son? No! The father gives into his son's request. He humbles himself so that his son can have his freedom. Then, while the son is away squandering the gifts that the father has given to him, the father keeps vigil. He looks out for his son's return in hope and in prayer. When the son does return, the father does not wait for the son to grovel at his feet and beg forgiveness. Rather, he runs out to his son, embraces him and accepts him back into his home where a feast is waiting.
This Lent, our God is keeping watch for us. Time and time again we lose our way and wander into foreign lands where we squander the grace God first poured upon us in our Baptism. But God is keeping vigil for us. God is waiting for us to return. God is ready to run out to greet us: to put rings on our fingers, to clothe us in his mercy, and to offer us a Banquet of Life. God knows what we have done, where we have been, and that we are prone to sin. But yet God embraces us. All we have to do is return. There need not be any explanations, no groveling, and no renouncement of our grace. All we have to do is return, and Lent is the time to do just that. If we return to the Father, he will only utter one Word to us. This is the word that the Father exclaims each day. This is the Word which seals us in Divine Love. This is the word of mercy, reconciliation and peace. JESUS.
Peace,
Shaun Lowery