FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
(Joshua 5:9, 10-12; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3,
11-32)
Today we reach the middle of Lent. Hopefully, we are having success in the
struggle to deny ourselves for the good of others. We probably don't find it as
hard as we imagined. Now, in this second part of the season, the focus shifts.
The Church no longer dwells on our sins of the past. Rather, she looks forward
to the saving events of Holy Week.
The first reading from the Book of Joshua portrays the last Passover before entering the Promised Land. The Passover Supper to this day has reminded the
Israelites of two marvelous happenings. First, it speaks of their escape from
Egypt by the arm of the Lord. Second, it emphasizes the strange but nutritious
manna they received from His hand. Both
events summon participants of the meal to give thanks to God. This is what we
do in the Eucharist, which Jesus established while celebrating the Passover.
Every Sunday (really, every day), and with more fervor than ever on Holy
Thursday, we repeat this memorial of divine love.
A phrase from the second reading surprises us like a flash
of lightning in the night. “God made him sin” (with “him” referring to Christ).
It sounds almost blasphemous. But it has to do with Christ's Sacrifice on the
cross on Good Friday. He “became sin” by redeeming the sins of the world with
his sacrificial death. In this act of supreme love, the purpose of his becoming
human is revealed. He certainly deserves our thanks.
The Gospel has perhaps the best-known of all Jesus’ parables.
Yet it seems not fully appreciated. Many focus almost exclusively on the
repentance of the younger brother. To them his story overshadows that of the
older brother. But Jesus tells the parable to the Pharisees to illustrate the
hardness of their hearts. He is comparing them to the older brother. Just as
the man quarrels with his father for never having given him a party, the
Pharisees complain about Jesus’ eating with sinners.
Some of us who attend Mass every Sunday probably sometimes
feel like the older brother. I do. We resent it when others are recognized by
name, and we are overlooked. We think “That's not fair" and want to
register a complaint. However, it may be that our concept of justice, like that
of the older brother, is lacking. We think of justice as something static. If
one person receives a three-inch piece of cake, everyone must receive the same three
inches. We don't want to admit special needs. As the father says, "It was
fitting that we should celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was
dead and has come back to life..."
Now we see the true protagonist of the story. The father
shows great love for both sons. For the younger son, the father looked for his figure
on the horizon every day. For the elder, he interrupts the welcoming of his
guests at the feast to persuade him to enter. His love recognizes a time for worry
and a time for rejoicing. He represents God giving everyone what they need so
that they may be united with Him. We will hear more of His wonderful deeds on
behalf of men and women at the Easter Vigil.
Whether we are like the older brother harboring resentment
or the brother squandering his life, the heavenly Father invites us to his
banquet. Here we repent with other sinners. Here we thank Him for our redeemer.
Here we feed on Jesus Christ himself so that we may do what it takes to have
eternal life. Yes, it will require
effort on our part. But empowered by Jesus and supported by one another, we
will reach our goal.
