4th Sunday of Lent – Year C
Josh. 5:9a, 10-12; Psalm 33; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Lk. 15:1-3, 11-32
Read: “Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. ‘Your brother has come’, replied the servant, ‘and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound’. Then he was angry and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father: ‘Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his adulteress women – you killed the calf we have been fattening’.
The father said: ‘My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found!”
Reflect: One who thinks he is more “good” than others binds God’s hands. The proud ties God’s hands, thus not letting Him to have pity on him. But today, even if you think you are more “good” than others, you are receiving the Good News. Even if you have the mentality that if you do good you will be rewarded and if you do evil you will be punished, you are receiving the Good News.
The elder brother in the parable reasoned out like you. But this is not the way that God reasons. But today you are seeing how the Father God is merciful towards you also, and He is coming out to meet you. And although you are going to tell Him that He is unjust, when he treats the “bad” one as he treats you, he is going to say to you these words that are so beautiful: “My son, you are always with me and what I have is yours. But it was necessary for us to make a feast and to celebrate, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”
We do not know what the elder brother did … whether or not he entered the house to join the feast. But you who considers himself to be more “good” than others, what are you going to do? You are going to continue to be envious, angry, be pretentious or are you going to be happy that one of your brothers has returned to the Father?
Pray: Look towards Him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called, the Lord heard him, and rescued him from all his distress. (Psalm 33)
Act: What ever your situation, if you are far away from God or you think that your are more “good” than others ….. take courage, stand up and return to God the Father whose name if Mercy, so that you will taste and see how good is the Lord!