Sunday Homily 3-14-10, Lent 4
Readings: Joshua 5, 9-12; Psalm 34, Taste and see the goodness of the Lord; 2 Corinthians 5, 17-21; Luke 15, 1-32
The Fourth Sunday in Lent – Reflection on the
The first reading today is from the Book of Joshua. Just to put this book in the context of the Old Testament, it comes immediately after the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. It is the account of how the Israelites took possession of the “Promised Land”. It would be similar I suppose to the landings of the early pilgrims and how we celebrate that event with Thanksgiving.
The book has been edited by the same folks who worked on the Pentateuch, namely those folks whom we know as J, E, P and D. Our reading today comes just before the famous battle to take
The Fourth Sunday in Lent – Homily
The gospel is a very familiar one. I know that we have traditionally looked at it from the point of view of forgiveness, but today I want to continue with the topic of selfishness and see how much of that is in this familiar story.
I have said this before, but it bears repeating. The entire might of Madison Avenue is focused on telling us that if we buy some product we will be happy, in other words the focus is on me doing something for me, when my experience is that when I shift that focus from me to you, only then am I truly happy! I want to repeat this, when I shift the focus of my attention from me to you, then I am truly happy.
Let’s take a look at the story. The younger son wants out of the place, wants his share of the inheritance and heads off to greener pastures! The money goes and before we know it he is feeding pigs. Remember the Jewish view of pigs, unclean. He could not have ended up in a worse state and he sure is feeling sorry for himself, so he makes up a plan. Focus is on himself and how to get out of the fix he is in. He rehearses his story and heads off home.
The older brother goes nuts when he finds out what happens. No joy that the brother is home, in fact he uses the phrase “your son” not “my brother” and throws in some additional details on how he believes his brother has been sinning. Then he gives the whole game away when he says “I have slaved all these years”, this is how he has viewed his life at home with dad. He is the “good boy” “I never once disobeyed your orders” Can you imagine how nice it must have been to have him around the house. His whole attitude was focused on how tough it was for him, and also thinking about the younger brother and what he must have been up to.
Certainly the focus has always been on the generosity of the father, but can you imagine how he must have felt. His youngest son leaves home and goes off to a foreign land, and they never hear from him again. The older son just sulks around the place and from the sound of him, was not fun to have around. No wonder the father spent his days looking for the younger son to return. No wonder he was happy to see him!
The story is told along with two other stories about things lost and found; the lost sheep and the lost coin. There is much rejoicing when each is found, as there is when the lost son returns home.
The Dutch priest Henri Nouwen wrote a wonderful little book on a painting of the prodigal son by Rembrandt in the
On the second reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians we have that amazing phrase which Paul uses to say we are “ambassadors for Christ”. Remember that an ambassador represents the one who has sent them. Christ’s focus was always on the underprivileged, the poor and the outcasts of society.
Picture 1: The Mass begins at Wilson Middle School
Picture 2: Bob & John, Marilyn and her guest from Germany, Richard
Picture 3: The patio at Wilson with Loretta & Gayle
Picture 4: The Donut Shoppe, Rosemary & Ray
