4th Sunday of Lent—Fr. Leo Schneider
Last week, the woman from Samaria became an apostle to those who rejected her. Jesus over looked her sin and did all he could do to bring her and her neighbors to believe. Jesus even knew her sins, but didn't count them. Instead, He brings her to a real faith in the Son of God.
Today’s gospel takes up the same theme. The youngest son squanders his inheritance thinking only of himself and what he wanted now. He had no thought of how his choices would affect his future. Desperate, he comes home to beg to live at least like a hired hand. When the father sees him, he runs out of excitement to see his son. He doesn’t even hear his sons confession, but puts the finest robe on him, a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and celebrates.
This loving father did not judge his son, his son came home because he learned his lesson, so he makes it clear to him he is and will always will be a treasured son in his father’s house.
The eldest son isn’t so forgiving. He is jealous when he doesn’t need to be. He isn’t losing a dime in the deal. He stands in harsh judgement of his brother and doesn’t enter the celebration. At that moment, he becomes the prodigal son.
Mercy doesn’t have conditions. It only needs a heart willing to accept the unconditional love of the father. As we hear this Gospel, we may see ourselves as the forgiver like the father, or prodigal like the youngest son, or maybe we recognize the judgmental older brother in ourselves. But we can all learn through the wisdom of this scripture to turn to the Lord and give ourselves to Him. To humbly accept the love that helps us be our truest self made in the image of God.
So let us run to the Lord and receive him in this Eucharist and strive to let his love fill our souls and guide our hearts.