Fourth Sunday of Lent

Readings: Joshua 5:9a,10-12, 2Corinthians 5:27-21, Luke 15:1-3,11-32

We have this wonderful parable of the two sons today. The story of the two sons in the Gospel should not be a surprise. Each of them has difficulties, rejections and struggles. This is true of any serious human and Christian life. We are not just born and automatically become wonderful human beings. Instead, we are born and life begins. Life is a series of difficulties,rejections and struggles. There are also wonderful joys, graces and delights.

Lent is a time for us to recognize our own sinfulness and to ask that we may become more alive in God’s grace. We need both of these aspects in our lives: a recognition of our own rebellion against God and a deep desire for God’s grace. We see this dynamic at work in the book of Joshua and in the parable. In both of these, literary works, inspired Scriptures for us, there is awareness that we humans do not easily admit our brokenness and sinfulness. We try to by without admitting to ourselves our inability to do what is right. Only when we find ourselves in difficulty do we begin to admit our brokenness and our need for God.

As St. Paul tells us that whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold new things have come. In order for those new things to come, we must let the old pass away. We let the old pass away when we finally admit that we are powerless to control our lives or even to manage our lives and finally allow God to possess us. God makes us in His own image only when we allow Him to do so.

May this Sunday in Lent help us see our need of God and come back to the Father. The Father is always waiting for us and will run out to meet us.