Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel C

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 

· The Son was basically saying I can’t wait until you die. I want my inheritance, which is not mine by right yet, now. The love of the father is beyond measure.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 

· How often have we done the same with our inheritance as a son or daughter of God through our personal sins?

When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ 

· He recognized that he did not deserve to be treated as a son because of what he had done. Because of his sins he lost sight of his true identity, even though the father was still father.

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 

· The foolishness of the father is evident. First, he allowed his son to disrespect him by giving him the inheritance as if he was dead. Second, he runs to the son and embrace him when he should have waited for the son to crawl back to him and beg him to restore him.

His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’

· The foolish father does not wait for the son to ask his forgiveness. Calling him father again was enough. The foolish father restores him as son and lavishes his blessings and gifts upon him.

· How often has God done the same and more for us? Even if our repentance is imperfect, even if we may sin again, God forgives and restores us to our dignity as sons and daughters because of his great love and mercy.

Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply,

‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 

· Have we been self-righteous at times in the past? Have we complained that we are not treated by God like others are?

He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

· How do we apply this parable to our life? When have we been the father, the younger son or the elder son?

· What is the grace God is offering us at this moment? 

 

Psalms 31:8 I will give you understanding, and I will instruct you in this way, in which you will walk. I will fix my eyes upon you.

 

Once the sinner has repented and turned back to the Lord, the repentant is more open to and ready to accept the instruction from the Lord. Sin made the person stubborn and unruly like a donkey. The instruction of the Lord will guide the person in the ways of God, his Master and teacher. With a docile heart the converted sinner is able to be obedient to the directions of the Lord. Have we noticed in our own lives it was because of arrogance that we refused to be obedient to the commands of God? But after we experienced the loving mercy of God, we became more in tune with his plan for us. Lord, thank you for your patience with me. Look upon me with mercy and love.

 Psalms 31:7 “You are my refuge from the tribulation that has surrounded me. You are my exultation: rescue me from those who are surrounding me.”

Once David experienced the merciful forgiveness from God, he relished in the certainty of God’s providential care and the inner peace that comes with it. Even tough trials will come from within and from without, his refuge will be the Lord. As God rescued him from the darkness of sin, David believes that God will provide for him no matter the tribulation. Do we have that same confidence in Our Father? Do we turn to the Lord, our defender, in the times of difficulties? Or do try to take on things ourselves? What has been our track record? The battle belongs to the Lord. Lord, be my defender and my sure hope.

 Psalms 31:5 “I have acknowledged my offense to you, and I have not concealed my injustice. I said, ‘I will confess against myself, my injustice to the Lord’ and you forgave the impiety of my sin.”

 

Once God confronted David of his sins in a dramatic way, the sinner was contrite and accused himself of his wanton wrongdoing. He could have tried to deny or try to excuse himself, but he did not. God could have withheld his forgiveness, but he did not. As quickly as David was contrite and confessed his sins, God forgave him. How often have we delayed going to confession, choosing to live in denial? But once we do confess with a contrite heart, God’s merciful forgiveness is poured upon us. God awaits our contrition. Lord, have mercy on me, for I have sinned against you, who has loved me beyond measure. Like the Prodigal Son, I don’t deserve to be your son, but you embrace me with your love.

 

Homily Third Sunday of Lent Year C

 

Reading 1: The background to our reading. Moses had killed an Egyptian and has fled the wrath of Pharaoh. Now, God appears to him to reveal his plan. God first reminds Moses of God’s sacredness and Moses’ sinfulness. “This is holy ground.... remove your sandals.” He then reveals to Moses that he is the same God that his ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshipped. In response, Moses hides his face. This is in contrast to later on in Moses’ relationship with God when God invites Moses into his presence to see his glory.

 

The purpose for this present revelation is to reveal God’ plan for his Chosen people who are in bondage. “I will deliver my people from their bondage in Egypt and lead them to the land I promised Abraham and his descendants.”

 

Moses initially protested that the people would not believe him. But God reveals to Moses to tell them I AM sent you. This identity of God will be the foundation of the people’s new relationship with God. Later, it will become the distinguishing factor separating the Jews from the pagans.

 

When Jesus applied the term I AM to himself, the leaders sought to stone him for, in their minds, he was equating himself with God, which was blasphemy.

 

Reading 2: Paul picks up on the journey of Israel in the desert. He reminded his Christian readers of how God provided many blessings for his people. But in spite of these signs and wonders, the people still sinned. They grumbled and complain; they were disobedient; they fashioned a god to worship; they doubted God. As a result, Paul says, all who refused to trust in the Lord, died in the desert before seeing the Promised Land.

 

To us and his Christian readers, Paul says to take note. These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not remain in the state of sin of rebellion and disobedience and thus not see the face of God in eternity. In other words, learn from the past. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past.

 

Gospel: Our reading tells us what we must do. Repent! Turn away from sin and live a life pleasing and in union with God! Jesus uses the remembered events. He says suffering at the hands of others is not a punishment by God; suffering at a result of a natural calamity is not a punishment by God.

 

But seeing these things, we are called to repent of our sins, so that, whether we suffer at the hands of others or from some natural or accidental cause, we will not be separated from God.

 

The third illustration of the barren fig tree shows us what will happen as a result of our own unrepentant misdeeds. If we do not repent, turn to the Lord and bear the fruit of union with him, a day will come when we will be cut down like the tree and thrown into the everlasting fire. The scriptures are clear. God does not want the death of the sinner, but that he repents, reforms and turns back to God.

 

We have been called by God. We have experienced the compassion and mercy of God in abundant ways. We do not know the day or the hour of God’s visitation. All of this is not said to put fear into our hearts but to help us to respond to the grace God offers us.

 

The question is: are we bearing the fruit of God’s mercy and love? What does that look like? It is a life in union with God; a life of love and mercy; a life of obedience and surrender to the will of God; a life that will allow us to take off our shoes of sin; a life of looking at the face of God and sharing in his glory.

 Psalms 31:4 “For, day and night, your hand was heavy upon me. I have been converted in my anguish, while still the thorn is piercing.”

It wasn’t until the prophet Nathan confronted David with the realization that God knows what he had done, did the King acknowledge his wrongdoing. The word of God was like a piercing spear. Nathan reminded David all that God had done and given him. Is this how David shows his gratitude to God. His words were like a weight on the King to bring him to humble confession. When we remain in sin, God reminds us of his blessings and our ingratitude. He does it to convict us of the stupidity of our actions. He could easily abandon us, but he loves us too much to do that. Like a loving Father he calls back. Lord, have mercy on me for I have sinned. I have been ungrateful and selfish.

 Psalm 32:3 Because I was silent, my bones grew old, while still I cried out all day long.

After David committed adultery and Bathsheba is with child, the King sinned again by commanding the death of Uriah, her husband. The King was trying to cover up his sin. He remained silent, refusing to confess his sins, even to God. It was like a sickness within him, weighing him down. How often we continue to sin, even refusing to admit our guilt out loud, as the weight of our sins bring us into deeper darkness and leaving us unfulfilled. We know the remedy, but refuse to act on it. But God is relentless in his pursuit of us. He allows the weight of our sin to become unbearable, until finally we acknowledge or sins. Lord, have mercy.