March 21, 2004 - 4th Sunday of Lent

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Good stories do not need explanation. They do need to be well presented. Then personal reflection and application will enrich the listeners. Today's gospel is one such great story. Known to the older generation as the story of the prodigal son, the younger generation term it the loving father, while many good living, settled folk may well be tempted to identify self-righteously with the elder brother. Each of these three characters highlights aspects of the human heart and of life experience. The younger son typifies a common occurrence of one taking his chance and brashly taking on the world only to come crashing down with a painful bump. In failure, some return home. Hopefully, in most families, there is a welcome home. But such a welcome is sometimes resented by those who have never kicked the traces but who have meticulously served as dependable family members.

For Jesus, the story was multi-purposed. Above all, he wanted to highlight that God our Father's mercy is always awaiting us no matter what the failure and that making mistakes is part of the tapestry of human living.

Failure repented of and forgive has the potential to help us grow in maturity and love. It is in our weakness that God's glory is revealed.

(Commentary by Tom Clancy. Taken from "Preaching the Word", Columba)

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