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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, March 30, 2025
I’ve been fortunate to see Rembrandt’s painting many times. It’s an oil painting on canvas, created around 1662. It measures 262 cm in height and 205 cm in width and is displayed at the Hermitage Museum in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. If anyone has the time and interest, I recommend reading Henri J. M. Nouwen’s wonderful book, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. It shares the author’s experience of seeing this painting and reflects on the different figures in it. It’s a great way to dive deeper into the message of this parable—a perfect read for Lent.
In any case, today’s readings continue to guide us in our daily lives. This is also the fourth Sunday of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday—”Rejoice!” The entrance antiphon in the Roman Missal says: “Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her, and you will be nourished and comforted.” (Cf. Is 66:10-11). Like the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete), the readings invite us to live with joy—no matter what.
The Israelites surely felt joy after forty years in the desert when they finally reached the Promised Land. After such a long journey, they were free at last, about to inherit a fertile land. The manna was gone; now it was time for shepherding and farming. That’s why they celebrated Passover again, just as their ancestors did when they left Egypt. They gave thanks because the Lord had kept His promises. Despite their unfaithfulness and doubts, He freed them, just as He said. This message speaks to us too—God is faithful; He always keeps His promises. Until we meet Him face to face, we have the Eucharistic Bread, which will one day give way to the eternal Feast in Heaven.
This is the hope of all who have become new creations in Christ, reconciled with God. As St. Paul reminds us, sin is a rupture—a state of enmity, a clash between human will and God’s will. But this division has been overcome, not by human repentance or good intentions, but by God’s free gift of reconciliation in Christ. He wiped away our sins, canceling our debt. Only He could do this—through His own Son, both God and man.
To receive this reconciliation, we must accept what God offers. Paul reminds us that we cannot be reconciled to God without listening to His messengers, who bring this word of forgiveness. Reconciliation doesn’t come through rituals or ascetic practices alone but by embracing the message preached by God’s ambassadors. Lent is a special time for this listening—and a time for honesty, because it’s easy to reject those sent to proclaim God’s Word, even with good intentions.
In the Gospel, Jesus was last seen dining at a Pharisee’s house. Now, He’s surrounded by tax collectors and sinners—in fact, it seems He invited them. This scandalized the “righteous,” who concluded: “How can this man be from God if He keeps such company?” To explain, Jesus tells the parable of the Prodigal Son.
Most attention goes to the younger brother. We might ask: Did he really repent? His change of heart wasn’t guilt over hurting his father but hunger—a very human moment. We all know how stubborn we can be; sometimes, we only change when we hit rock bottom. The younger brother didn’t expect his old status back—he just wanted a job and a meal.
He knew he’d acted shamefully and assumed such things couldn’t be forgiven. By demanding his inheritance early, he’d treated his father as dead. Yet even his imperfect desire to return was enough for the father. That’s why some call this the Parable of the Merciful Father. The son is restored completely—given a ring (a sign of sonship in that culture) and declared alive again. God doesn’t want slaves; He wants free, loving children. The father runs to embrace him, not as a servant but as a beloved son. In the end, it wasn’t the father who had died—it was the son who was dead inside, and his return brought him back to life.
The real message, though, lies in the second half of the story: the older brother. He represents the Pharisees—those who followed every law but missed the heart of love. When he hears of his brother’s return, he’s furious. Both brothers had left home: one physically, the other emotionally. The older son lived near the father but never truly lived with him. Jesus tells this parable to the religious leaders to show that repentance is an inner change—not just rule-following. All of us need repentance, and even the smallest step toward God is met with His mercy.
We need a Church that meets people where they are—welcoming every hint of seeking, every attempt at change, every longing for home. No matter how old we are, the child inside us can be reborn. Today, let’s reflect: How am I responding to God’s love and mercy? Am I ready to leave my past behind and trust Him completely? This Lent, may we experience the joy and peace of living close to our Heavenly Father—”Taste and see that the Lord is good!”
Lord, may I cling to nothing but Your love and Your will. Amen.
Your brother in faith,