Forgive Unconditionally ~ by Ronnie Archer

Laetare Sunday ~ Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Divine message from Jesus today to all of us is, "if you want to be at peace and to be happy, then forgive unconditionally."

The first reading speaks of the Israelites celebrating their freedom from Egypt, and having a celebration of God, who accompanied His people to the Promised Land.

St. Paul, in the second reading to the Corinthians, says: "Whoever is in Christ is a new creation, old things passed away and new things have come." God has reconciled Himself to the world through Jesus Christ. We are God's ambassadors for Christ.

As the Father did in today's Gospel, God did not wait for us to come to Him. He came to us in His Son, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died to save us while we were still in sin.

The Pharisees and scribes were unhappy and complaining about Jesus' association with the tax collectors and sinners. Jesus told them the parable of the father of two sons and how the youngest son wanted to receive his inheritance and leave home. After squandering his money, he came to his senses. Realizing that his father's servants lived much better than he was, he decided to return to his home.

The son returned home to find his father welcoming him with love, gifts and a big celebration with food, music and dancing. The older son had never left his home but had worked, helping his father. Upon arriving home from working out in the fields, he heard the music, etc. and became angry. He did not understand the celebration and confronted his father.

The father told him that he realizes that he has been with him always and tells him to "look around him; everything he had would still be his, but they had to celebrate now, because his brother was 'dead' but he has now come to life again."

The older brother could look around and see the "tangible" signs of his father's love all about him. The father in the parable ran to meet his son, forgave and welcomed him home, even before the son said anything. Jesus told this parable to teach the Pharisees and scribes the lesson of forgiveness.

Our Loving FATHER will come to meet us also, even if we "squander our inheritance."

Jesus drives the message to us that we are welcomed unconditionally, if we want to be forgiven. What we need to do is to repent, become a new creation and reconcile ourselves to Him also. Then "we can rejoice and celebrate in God through Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:11)