Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C (Laetare Sunday) – March 31, 2019.

Readings: Jos. 5:9a.10-12; Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3.4-5.6-7(9a); 

2 Cor. 5-17-21 & Gospel Luke 15:1-3.11-32.

Theme: The Prodigal Son and His Prodigal Father!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, today being Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare or Rejoice Sunday. It is so called because the Latin words of the Introit “Laetare Jerusalem” (Rejoice, O Jerusalem) taken from Isaiah 66:10 appear in the entrance antiphon at Mass in the Western Christian Liturgical Calendar. As we continue our annual Lenten Observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the Church bids us rejoice because our redemption is near.

Laetare Sunday is considered as a day of relaxation from the normal rigors of Lent as Easter is in view. Traditionally, weddings which are usually discouraged during the period of Lent are performed on Laetare Sunday. To further authenticate “Rejoice Sunday,” servants were released from their Master’s Service to visit their mothers which is why in some Churches, Mothering Sunday is held on this day.

Today, the presents us with the parable of “The Prodigal son and His Prodigal Father” as an opportunity to learn from the dangers of straying from God on the one hand, and the indescribable love of the Father on the other. As such, we shall consider the background and summary of the readings, pastoral lessons, homiletic quotes to remember and conclusion.

Background & Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Joshua 5:9a.10-12) narrates how the Lord renews his Covenant with the Israelites through Joshua at Gilgal. It assures that Yahweh has taken away his people’s shame thus reconciling them to himself. It further tells how the people encamped and kept the Passover there on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening at Jericho. It indicates how they ate what the land of Canaan produced - unleavened bread and roasted ears of corn.

In the second reading (2 Corinthians 5-17-21), St. Paul categorically states that “Anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creation.” He notes that the older order has passed away and a new one is at work. He maintains that God gave us a ministry of reconciliation even as he states that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself; not holding anyone’s faults against them. He, therefore, says: “In the name of Christ, we appeal to you to be reconciled to God” stressing that for our sake, God made the sinless one a victim for sin so that we might be the righteousness of God.

The Gospel of Luke (15:1-3.11-32) presents us with the classical story of God’s love for us. In this narrative, which I christened, the parable of “The Prodigal Son and His Prodigal Father,” Jesus chides the Pharisees who complained that tax collectors and sinners were among his audience. As such, he told the parable against this backdrop to demonstrate that the Father’s love does not discriminate but is elastic and ever anew.

By way of summary, the parable of the prodigal son is about a man who had two sons and the younger one demanded a share of his father’s property. When the father obliged him, he went to a far away country and spent the money on loose living. When his money got finished and the country experienced a severe famine, he hired himself to one of the locals who put him on his farm to feed pigs. He would have been happy to feed on the husks of the animals but no one gave him.

When life became unbearable, he thought of going back to his father who had more than enough; whose hired men lived in plenty. While he was far away, the father who saw him was moved with pity, ran and clasped and kissed him. The son said he was sorry for offending God and his father but his father who was overjoyed ordered that the best robe, ring and sandals be brought fro him. In fact, he also commanded that the fattened calf be killed because it was fitting for them to celebrate because his son who was dead has come back to life.

Meanwhile, the eldest son who was in the fields enquired and one of the servants gave him the gist. He was bitter and refused to enter the house. The father came out to explain how fitting it was to celebrate the return of his brother. In his frustration, the elder son called his brother: “This son of yours” and insinuated that he came back after spending his father’s property on his loose women. He also expressed sadness that he had slaved for his father all these years and never was he given as much as kid to celebrate with his friends.

In characteristically clam manner, the Father explained: “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right that we should celebrate and rejoice because your brother here was dead and has come to life - he was lost and is found.”

Pastoral Lessons

1. The message of the first reading that the Lord renewed his Covenant with the Israelites through Joshua at Gilgal assures contemporary Christians that the Lord would be with us to the ends of time (Matthew 28:20).

2. That the first reading assured that God has taken away His people’s shame thus reconciling them to Himself, urges us to take advantage of Lent to be reconciled to God individually and as a Church.

3.  The encampment and keeping of the Passover of the Israelites on the plains of Jericho calls us to be more committed to a “full, conscious, and active participation” (Sacosanctum Concilium, no.14) of the liturgy of the Mass without distractions so as to enjoy its fruits.

4. The message of St. Paul that “Anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creation” urges Christians to live the new life of the Spirit in such a manner that it will renew the face of the earth (Psalm 104: 30).

5. Paul’s thesis that God gave us a ministry of reconciliation indicates that God has reconciled the world to himself in a way that he does not hold anyone’s faults against them but gives us graces to be reconciled to one another and also patronise the sacrament of penance at Lent and always.   

6. The gospel presents us with the story of a son whose life was prodigal because of his waywardness and a Father who is always prodigal with his love because it is elastic.

7.  By telling the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus challenges the Pharisaic in attitude that as Abigail Van Buren opines: “The Church is a hospital for sinners not a museum for saints.”

8.  Most of us are like the wayward son in the gospel because for all we care, what matters is a life of licentiousness with sex, alcohol, drugs, name it.

9. Sin makes us stranded - It is a joy-killer which makes us condescend from grace wanting to feed with swine.

10. At Lent, we are encouraged to come back to our senses and go back to our Father who is ready to wash us clean, clothe us and put a ring on our finger as well as sandals on our feet.

11. We are warned to avoid a blind, envious and selfish obedience to God which seeks reward and shuts others from his mercy as demonstrated by the eldest son who wanted to tear the family apart and to realise that God is a “Big Daddy” whose love does not discriminate.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. Today being fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare or Rejoice Sunday.

2. Laetare Sunday is considered as a day of relaxation from the normal rigors of Lent as Easter is in view.

3. The first reading narrates how the Lord renews his Covenant with the Israelites through Joshua at Gilgal.

4. St. Paul categorically states that “Anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creation.”

5. The Gospel of Luke presents us with the classical story of God’s love for us.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Introit “Laetare Jerusalem” (Rejoice, O Jerusalem) which encapsulates the spirit of today’s celebration invites us to rejoice because Easter celebration is near. Besides, we have every cause to rejoice because our liturgy offers us the timeless message of God’s love for us. By reflecting on the Prodigal son and His Prodigal Father, we are reminded that the season of Lent is an opportunity to take our annual Lenten observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving seriously. May God help us to be truly reconciled to one another and to Him. Amen.