Fourth Sunday of Lent

 This Sunday we have the Gospel of the Prodigal Son, but it really is the story of the Father of two sons.

It is always helpful to pray over this parable. Jesus was aware that the Pharisees and scribes were complaining because Jesus both welcomed sinners and ate with them. So, Jesus tells them about the father who has two sons. The younger son asks for his inheritance and then leaves. He spends all he has and is reduced to feeding pigs and wishing he could eat the husks he gives them. Finally, he realizes that his father's hired workers have more than enough to eat, and he needs to go back and beg to be treated as one of the hired workers. Before he can arrive, his father caught sight of him and is filled with compassion. "He ran to his son and kissed him." Then he gives a feast to celebrate his son's return. The other brother is angry and refuses to go in to rejoice at his brother's return. The father comes out and tells 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."

I love this Gospel for I am sure the God is always waiting for us and wants to love us, if we just let Him.