Let God encourage us to choose to be free by being honest with ourselves and reconcile with God
Fourth Sunday of Lent – March 30, 2025
Our First Reading holds the key to God’s message this week: God always leads us to freedom! And, along the journey, provides us with what we need (not what we want). But, when we are truly free, we are able to have what we want; because we will only want what is good for me AND good for my community. Freedom is being part of a community: giving and receiving.
Last Sunday’s Gospel about the Fig Tree, the last chance, seems to be undermined by this Gospel of the Prodigal Son. However, we can say that the Fig Tree teaches us about negative “consequences” which cause prolonged suffering; while the Prodigal Son reminds us that God is always ready to welcome us back after we have suffered the consequences.
In our Gospel, we see that both sons are trapped and have lost their freedom: the younger son in destitution eating animal food because of his “sins”, and the elder son trapped in resentment and bitterness because of his self-righteous attitude.
On the surface, most people initially feel annoyed at the younger son, and feel sorry for the elder son. It’s not fair that the younger son “has a great time” and loses everything while his elder brother works hard helping his father. And, now, the father gives a party for his younger brother. Human justice says this is not fair! Is that the way you feel, at least a bit?
So, what does that say about us? Are we more interested in what we can get, or what we are working for? … and less interested in the wellbeing of our neighbours who are “naughty”?
Thankfully, we believe and know, that God is a God of life. Our Church, also, is always preaching about choosing life (although, sometimes, we are slow to live it). It may strange to introduce the topic of reconciliation on Laetare Sunday (rejoicing Sunday), because confession and reconciliation are usually challenges that many people try to avoid!
However, we are really blessed with the “recent” development of the Sacrament of Penance: the Church has progressed in its teaching from a focus on confession and penance to make God happy, to reconciliation and penance to make us happy. Listen to this story…
A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. Returning to Grandma’s house, he saw her pet duck. On a sudden impulse he took aim and slung the stone. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead! The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch, Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” As she whispered, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes.
Later, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help me make supper.” Sally smiled and said, “That’s all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it.” Again she whispered, “Remember the duck.” Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, finally he couldn’t stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he’d killed the duck. “I know, Johnny,” she said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. But I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.” (Unknown)
This little story challenged me to think: who am I afraid of when we have family gatherings? Who do I avoid when I go to work? When invited to a party, who do I fear will be there?
For older people, perhaps many still remember the fear and shame instilled in us through Confession when we were younger. And for younger people perhaps you are not sure if the priest will understand: will I be in trouble? And, will the priest really keep secret what I say?
Never fear, priests go to jail, rather than reveal confession matters. Like every good thing, the truth is not easy: but it sets us free. And, here is something rarely taught to children: the priest is not your judge: our judge is God our Father. The role of a priest is help each one of us be honest with ourselves: because God already knows what we have done.
Today’s Gospel really does allow us to rejoice: if we follow the example of the younger son. The father’s response to the younger son’s confession (even if a bit selfish), is exactly God’s response to our confession of sin: the father was not even interested in discussing the sin: he was just happy the son had come to his senses and become honest with himself!
Let us pray that all priests will be compassionate channels of the Father’s joy when each of us goes to Reconcile with God. Our Founder, St Eugene de Mazenod, instructed the Oblates to always ensure that everyone leaves confession feeling better than they entered.
If your priest makes you feel bad, then run away and find another! You will not have to go far.
God offers us freedom! Let are free to choose whether we walk on the dark side and be a slave for evil, or to walk in the light and feel free and happy with what we have… choose!
By Gerard Conlan, OMI
