We hear a famous Gospel today: the parable of the prodigal son. When I reflected upon this parable in the midst of the holy season of Lent, I see the theme of repentance and conversion. Indeed, there is great rejoicing in heaven for the sinner who repents, just as there is great joy in the heart of the shepherd when he finds that one lost sheep, just as the father has great joy when his lost son returns. This Gospel reflects the way Christ went out of his way to reach out to the poor and the outcast, how he had dinner with those seen as the greatest of sinners in his society, how he healed the leper, how left his disciples to reach out to those who had never heard his teachings. This message applies to us as a parish, as we are not to just remain closed in and content with our members alone, but are to evangelize and bring the Gospel to others, and in particular to the lost and the forgotten.
As we think about our need to forgive and to be forgiven, we still might wonder why the father celebrated his lost son’s return after the son wasted away his fortune. Why did the father not celebrate the older son who always treated him with dignity and respect? It comes down to forgiveness: Jesus teaches us to forgive - to forgive again and again. Not 7 times. 77 times. This is a lesson in humility, to be sure. Yes, we are all called to be humble as disciples of Christ.
F. But beyond humility, this embodies God’s unconditional love.
God always welcomes us back. There are many of us who have left our faith for a time, who have left our faith community. There are many of us who feel a big space between us and God, no matter how hard we try. Sometimes we wonder where God is when we call out to him, when we don’t feel him answering us back. But, God welcome us back no matter what. God is not angry at us for doubting or for straying or for ignoring him. Like the father with the prodigal son, God the Father greets us with joy when we return. It is never too late with God. It is never too late.
We have been reflecting upon the saints during our Lenten journey. In a little more than a week, a group of our youth will be confirmed here at St Jude with Bishop Joseph Kopacz. This is a major step on their journey. I have asked a couple of our youth to share with us about the saint they have chosen for their confirmation name. And how that saint’s life speaks to us our Lenten journey.
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