Gospel Reflection March 30 – Father Black
Sunday, March 30
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Luke 15: 1-3; 11-32
Gospel:
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'”
Gospel Reflection:
We hear the familiar parable of the Prodigal Son in today’s Gospel. Central to the story is the younger son’s greed, selfishness, and ultimate abandonment of his father and his family responsibilities. After living the life he thought would make him happy, he quickly realizes how much he has lost following his selfish desires. Realizing this, he is willing to return to the father and, sacrificing his rights as a son, become one of his father’s workers.
Of course his father, filled with joy, restores his son’s relationship with him as son. Another important detail in this story is that when the younger son returned home, his father was still there. He hadn’t moved, he didn’t chase after the son. If he had, he would not have been there to receive his son home. This is the way it is with our God. He is steadfast and unchanging. His ways are consistent and his commands remain the same always. It is we who wonder, it is we who go in different directions. It is also we who think our ways are going to be better for us. Let us be glad that when we wander from the commands of God, He remains where He has always been. When we return to him, He will be there for us, with arms open.
Father James Black
