2025 3 30 – 8-11:15 Mass, cycle C, Luke 15 1–3, 11–32 the parable of the prodigal son
Focus – mercy
Today is Laetare Sunday. Laetare is Latin for the word rejoice. We rejoice that we’re halfway through our Lenten disciplines.
How are we doing with prayer, fasting and alms giving. I am trying to fast from worrying. Some days I make progress other days I fall back. When I fall down, I remember that God is reminding me that I am human. That I am not perfect. That I need Jesus.
How are you doing? Let’s take a moment now to reflect on what we’re doing for Lent.
SLIDE:
What are you doing
for Lent?
And if you haven’t chosen something, what could you do? It’s not too late.
We will also rejoice today because we are reminded of God‘s great mercy.
Today’s gospel reading is Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son.
Someone said recently if Jesus had a business card, it would say Jesus of Nazareth friend of sinners and tax collectors.
SLIDE:
Jesus business card
Although many people don’t like the IRS, I am going to give them a pass today and focus on sinners.
However, no one is perfect, even people in the front row. And so, this homily is for everyone even me. All of us are sinners
Typically in a parable, Jesus is calling us to reflect on ourselves . Where do we find ourselves in the story? Who are we most like? In this parable, are we more like the prodigal son or the older brother.
Slide:
Am I more like:
Older brother or prodigal son?
I will share with you who I most associate with in the hope that you will do the same. However, I won’t ask you to come up here and share in front of everybody else.
For me, I most connect with the older brother. I tend to be a rule follower, and I tend to judge others and judge myself
bear in mind both brothers were lost. And in fact, only the younger brother, the prodigal son, comes to his senses in the parable.
The younger son squanders half of the estate of his father. Then the younger brother, realizes his sinful ways. And decides he will go home and ask to be a hired hand on his father‘s estate.
While the younger son was still a long ways off, his father caught sight of him. The only way his father could see him while he was still a long ways off is if his father went out every day looking for his son. Despite the fact that the younger son wasted half his estate.
Slide:
Forgiving Father
Seeing his son, he was filled with compassion, ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. Keep in mind that this is the same son Who by his actions had wished that his father was dead, so he could receive his half of his inheritance.
If this was me, I would not have been happy at the younger son. I would’ve judged him like the older brother judged him.
But look at our God. God, is so forgiving, so loving. The father puts the finest robe on him, a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet and throws a dance party.
God wants all to come to a saving knowledge of his mercy and love.
In God‘s kingdom, Mercy triumphs over judgment and justice. (James 2:13)
Slide:
Mercy triumphs over judgement
But look at the older brother. He is angry and judgmental. Focused on what the younger son has done wrong. The father tells him that everything the father has is his. But that’s not good enough. The older brother shows no mercy to the younger brother.
The older brother does not understand God’s kingdom. The older brother does not understand that mercy triumph over justice. The older brother does not understand that we have a God keeps giving and keeps forgiving. A God whose mercies are new every day. A God, who is love incarnate.
The older brother justifies himself by pointing out he did not do what the younger brother had been doing. disobeying his father and swallowing up his property with prostitutes. This is what the Pharisees do. the Pharisees say thank God I’m not like that tax collector. There is a problem with what the older brother is doing. A trap fall into all who judge.
The problem with that is that no one is perfect. We are all sinners. The older brother is comparing himself with the wrong person. He should compare himself with God who we are called to imitate in the person of Jesus Christ.
Both sons were lost. The younger son was looking for love in the wrong places and spending money on his passions and desires. The older son was following the rules, but judging himself better and so judging other worse. Not loving and merciful and forgiving.
Which son are you most like? Are you looking for love in the wrong places? Or Are you bitter or angry or judgmental? Remember, God is calling each one of us to consider which son we are more like.
This week, no matter which son we are more like, let us be more like the father. As it says in Luke chapter 6: “Be merciful, just as [our] Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36).
Here is your homework for this week:
Let me see a show of hands.
How many people have ever been hurt?
Reflect on someone who has hurt you. Can you forgive them? If it’s big, ask for God’s help. If it’s not safe to see the person, forgive them in your heart. I find that when I am trying to forgive someone, praying for them, will eventually soften my heart. I also find reflecting on the good they do and every one does some good, also softens my heart. Finally reflectin on my feelings helps me forgive another.
God‘s continued blessings on your Lenten journey.
