FEASTING ON THE WORD
"If you meditate on the Scriptures it will appear to you in its brilliant splendor." ―St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Fourth Sunday of Lent (C)Joshua 5:9A, 10-12 | Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 | 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 | Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Home. Hardly a word has such sentimental overtones. Home reminds us of feelings of warmth and welcome, of security, serenity and serendipity, of love, joy and peace. Home spells fun and games, so much good food and most restful sleep. A Major theme in our readings for the fourth Sunday of Lent, called “Laetare” (Rejoice) Sunday, is "Coming home". Kevin constantly quarreled with Romeo, his father. Finally, he left home without saying goodbye. He continued to keep in touch with his mom Amelia but cut connections with his dad. After a few years, he wanted to come home for Christmas very badly. But he was afraid his dad would not allow it. His mom texted him and urged him to come home. Inside, he felt he couldn’t do that until he knew his father had forgiven him. They texted back and forth a few times about it. Finally, there wasn’t time for any more text messages. Amelia said she would talk to Romeo. If he had forgiven Kevin, she would tie a rose-colored ribbon on the tree right next to the railroad tracks in their back yard in San Andres, Manila. Kevin would be able to see the tree before the train reached San Andres Bukid station. If there were no ribbon, he would go on and not stop. Kevin started for home. As the train got close to his home, he became so nervous he couldn’t look out the window. So he said to his friend who was sitting next to him, “I can't bear to look. Would you sit in my place and look out the window for that big tree in my back yard next to the tracks. Tell me if there is a rose-colored ribbon on it or not.” So his friend traded places with him and looked out the window. After awhile the friend said, “Oh, I see the tree.” Kevin asked, “Is there a rose-colored ribbon tied to it?” For a moment, his friend didn’t say anything. Then he turned, and in a soft voice said, “There is a rose-colored ribbon tied to every branch of the tree.” If you have ever been on a long road trip, you know how it feels to finally hear your Waze navigation app notification, "You've arrived at your destination." For Israel, that sign came with crossing the Jordan River. The reading from Joshua relives that moment when the Israelites are finally home. The wilderness wandering was officially over. They are a nation in a new land, no longer slaves but free. They marked this homecoming by renewing the covenant with God through the circumcision of men at Gilgal and the celebration of the Thanksgiving Feast, Passover Seder. Circumcision was indicative of God rolling away their past. It was to give them a new beginning as they crossed over into the Promised Land. Their circumcision typified what baptism does for us as God takes away our sin. Passover Seder commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It recalls their earlier captivity and its happy ending. God parted the sea in two so that the Israelites can escape hot pursuit by the enemy. While they are on their journey, the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night guided them. He sent them all-you-can-eat quail every evening to eat and fed them in the morning of best-tasting manna deli sandwich. He brought forth streams from the rock and gave them abundant drink. God never left his people alone in their journey. His presence was always there and he provided them help and comfort until their journey's end. As the Israelites renewed their covenant with God and thankfully remembered his great works upon their homecoming to the Promised Land, we renew and deepen our own baptismal commitment and count our blessings as we respond to the call to "return home" in this Season of Lent. The story is told about a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father tried to find him. He searched to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Manila daily. The ad read: “Dear Emil, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” On Saturday 500 Emils showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers. In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul explains that Jesus is the new Passover. The forgiveness of God gives each of us a new lease on life. A chance to start over again, to become a new creation, to be reconciled with God. Reconciliation means becoming new persons, new creatures, letting go of our old self. We need to rid ourselves of those things that get in the way. The more things that we can get rid of, the more room we have for God. Just as the Israelites in the first reading were freed from captivity, Jesus delivers us from the bondage of sin to the freedom of forgiveness. God offers us a new world of forgiveness and reconciliation and we have to extend this reconciliation to others. One night I was tucking Jill, my 10-year-old daughter in to bed and told her about the Parable of the Two Sons. We discussed how the younger son had taken his inheritance early, left and spent it all on living it up and partying until he had no money left and had to work on a pig farm where he couldn’t even afford to eat what the pigs ate. He remembered his father and went back home to ask for a job and forgiveness. His father welcomed him home with much joy! After we finished the story I asked Jill what she learned and she immediately said, “Never leave home without your credit card!” In the Gospel of Luke, we learn that the scribes and Pharisees are not happy with Jesus because he was hanging out with sinners. Their grumbling prompts Jesus to tell the Parable of the Two Sons. A younger brother, a wastrel, who returns repentant after dissipation and an elder brother who is loyal yet angry and unforgiving. On the one hand, the younger brother represents the Gentiles and all like them who had been away long enough and wanting to "come home". On the other extreme, the elder brother represents the Jewish people and all like them who while obedient to the Law, demonstrate resentment in God's interest in the sinners and the lost. Jesus is telling us what God the Father is like. He loves us so much that he is overjoyed to see us turn away from sin and come back to him. He is always ready to forgive us and take us back. The father in the story ordered a fatted calf so the entire village can celebrate with him. This meal is a sign of reconciliation. God shows deep and constant love for us no matter what we do so long as we admit being wrong and sincerely want to change. God is the loving, compassionate Father who reaches out to both the loyal and the lost son. Just the same, we are all invited to go back home and celebrate those who found their way back home. In this Season of Grace, we are called to come home. We are called to reconciliation with God, the community of faith, our own families, and one another. He is waiting for you to come back home. Come home soon. <enrique.ofs> 📷 https://stream.org/knowing-god-as-a-forgiving-father/
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum Archives
March 2024
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