The parable of the Prodigal Son ~ Fourth Sunday of Lent (C)

The Fourth Sunday of Lent

Josh 5:9a, 10-12

Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 9a

2 Cor 5:17-21

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

"When the poor one called out, the Lord heard..."  These words from today's Psalm 34 can surely relate to Luke's Gospel story of the Prodigal Son, whose father so willingly opened his arms in welcome to the son who had squandered his inheritance living a dissipated life.

The son had done all the wrong things after leaving home...  made all the wrong decisions... cared about nothing except what would give him pleasure...  and ended up ragged and hungry amidst the swine he was hired to tend.  How ironic that he was to tend swine, animals that to a Jewish man were considered unclean.  How ready he was for an awakening!

That awakening occurred as the son came to see what a disaster he had made of his life and how he had sinned against God and his father.  He came to realize his need for forgiveness .. and repentance for all that he had done.  It was time to go home and be reconciled   The son did not expect to be accepted back as a member of the family but he hoped that his father would at least treat him as he did his hired workers.  He knew he was not worthy of anything else.

We know the end of the story.  His father's love, his joy at the reunion and his incredible compassion for his lost son was so strong, that he declared a day of feasting, new clothing, the best of everything for the lost one who had returned.

Isn't this like our Heavenly Father?  Our God waits to hear from us...  He is never far away...  Our sins are what keep us at a distance from our Father and his embrace.  We are so caught up in ourselves and what we desire, that it takes an awakening of remorse and sorrow where we see how far we have gone astray before we are able to repent and be reconciled to the One who loves us unconditionally and forever.

Paul reminds the people of Corinth that God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and whoever is in Christ is a new creation.  That his whole message is one of reconciliation and that we, God's sons and daughters, are a part of it.  This is our joy and our hope...


Image:  The Return of the Prodigal Son by Liz Lemon Swindle