Fourth Sunday in Lent

Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 30. 2025

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found." Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Today, we hear the story of what is called the prodigal son. Yet is it really the story on two sons, one prodigal the other faithful and hurting. Most of us has been both of these in our lifetime. We wander off and are welcomed back or we stay around and so all the work and feel underappreciated. Yet we also forget that this a story of God's love, not human love, told to faithful religious leadership. They were criticizing Jesus' company, not willing to admit that they too have been willful, wandered off and got in all sorts of trouble. The phrase, "there but for the grace of God" often goes through my head. We are flawed, selfish, ridiculously jealous people. We are invited today to embrace love which we can nor comprehend or encompass and share it with those who are in desperate need of God's love.

                                        A Litany for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

Wondrous Creator, perfect parent of imperfect children

we are made in your image with free will and we use it

too often to wander off and forget to whom we belong.

Lord Jesus, help us to open our hearts to your eternal love today.

We are willful, flawed, selfish and very judgmental

decrying others' behavior while we are going astray

our hearts are full of deceit, anger and need to control.

Lord Jesus, help us to open our hearts to your eternal love today.

You, Lord, don't care how many times we fall down

you will pick us up as we return and celebrate us

your love is deeper that all the oceans of the earth combined.

Lord Jesus, help us to open our hearts to your eternal love today.

Lift us all from our petty selves so we might love again

remove all the anger and judgment so others might be free.

Lord Jesus, help us to open our hearts to your eternal love today.

For you have promise to run towards us when we call

and settle us again into your loving arms and heavenly home.

Lord Jesus, help us to open our hearts to your eternal love today. Amen.