Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C
Joshua a5:9a, 10-12
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
We all admire the Roman Empire for its art, sculpture, paintings, architecture, diplomacy, warfare, engineering – aqueducts, roads, spas and legal system. All the Western legal systems are based on the Roman law. We would easily say “that was something,” the golden age of humankind or the apex of culture. They must have been happy people! Were they?
Looking at the sculpture of the first century, the time of Jesus, they show a deep sadness. If you look at the eyes, they express sadness, a sort of “desperate numbness.” (J.P. Milliet, Les Yeax hagards, in Melanges Nicole) These points are results of simple observation by many scholars. Take, for example, the epitaphs (tomb inscriptions). The most widespread: I was not. I came to be. I am no longer. It amounts to nothing. The Roman writer Livy writes we can no longer bear either our vice or their cures (History of Rome).
Despite the great achievements in every way, they were people who had no hope! Listen carefully to the Pandora myth: When the jar was opened and all the evils fled, it was closed just before hope could leave. It was held in the jar, so hope could get to the world! The lack of hope is one of the characteristics of the culture of that time. The Greek elpis (hope) meant “to wait for.” For the people of the Roman empire, there was nothing to wait for. Therefore, St. Paul writes we do not want you to live like the pagans, who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13).
How much this mirrors our own culture and society! For how many there is nothing to wait for! Many found their solution, inspired by the Roman culture: carpe diem – seize, enjoy the day for there is nothing more. The pressing questions of life are dealt with by enjoying the present moment. Some do it through drugs, alcohol, endless sex, etc. Why? For the pressing questions of life do not get answers. Others are into work and achieving. The smartest make their way up and act as if they were God, doing whatever they want. Changing the world as they are pleased, manipulating, lying, cheating, betraying … There is a danger for Christians as well. The danger is to reduce faith to church membership. I come here, I support, I volunteer … social club mentality. What else should I do? Why? You can see this from the anonymous online survey: 80% of Catholics do not think that the teaching of the Church is crucial for their decisions.
But we are people of hope! St. Paul proclaims, whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and he says elsewhere we have this steadfast anchor, the hope, that enters behind the curtain (Hebrews 6:19).
Hope in Hebrew and Biblical Greek is something else than in secular usage of the day. While the secular usage means “waiting for something,” the Biblical one “entrust oneself to someone,” “find shelter at,” “have recourse to,” “wait with certitude,” “find refuge.” This changes everything! The pagans of St. Paul’s time were amazed what kind of certitude and hope these people have! St. Peter encourages the disciples to share and explain the hope they have (1 Peter 3:15).
Let us ask the question: What is my hope? Jesus shows us who is our true hope. It is the Father from the parable we heard today. He is reconciling us with himself through his son Jesus. He can fix my heart, soul and my entire life. Usually, we focus on the prodigal son. But the main character is the father who forgives the one that squandered all the heritage as well as the one that did not do any transgression, but his heart is hard as a rock. Jesus tells us this parable to recognize our hope is no one else but God the Father!
He respects the freedom of an individual. He is close and not distant. Even when the prodigal runs away, the Father awaits him. He is looking out for him. Therefore, he recognizes the returning son, when he was far away still. God has the same attitude toward you as well! You are not exempt from his tenderness, closeness and mercy! You take one step toward him; he makes three toward you. Recognizing the returning son, he feels compassion. He runs to him. He throws literally himself around the neck and shoulders of the son with tenderness and kisses him. Not one kiss – but the father was tenderly kissing him (v. 20).
The son, after running away and living his way (v. 12-13), runs into trouble. He spent all he had. He ran out of money! However, things became worse. Not only does he have no means to sustain himself, but there is also famine in the whole country. A severe, catastrophic famine (v.14). Resources are gone. Opportunities are gone. But he still does everything my way. The Greek original tells us that “he cleaved to” — firmly glued himself to a citizen. The impression is that the son is convinced “this citizen will save me.” The verb used (ekollêthê) is in perfect tense, meaning the decision and attitude is absolute, unchangeable. The son has made the absolutely firm decision to stick himself to this guy, for only he can save him. Nevertheless, he ends up herding pigs and still starving. The “big brother” betrayed him! After a while, he realizes he is hardly surviving. This is not life. This is a struggle to survive. Then he remembers what he lost: there is abundance in my father’s house and the servants live a better life far beyond what I have now! (v.17).
The prodigal son “reenters himself.” This awkward expression is translated “came to senses” (v. 17). However, the meaning of the original is “to turn into one’s heart and face the reality” as it is. Without any filters. Without making things better than they are.
The first step to experience God’s mercy is to recognize what I have lost doing things my way. Where did I end up by sinning? He simply compares the state before sinning and afterward. Everything starts with this reflection.
Second, recognizing what we have done and returning to God. It is much easier for us, since we know God loves me. We know Jesus paid the price! One of the hymns of the Byzantine Matins says: You welcomed me back, when you stretched your arms on the cross. Returning to God the Father through the healing sacrament of confession, taking the path of the prodigal son’s repentance! We can truly experience that we are new creation in Christ, whenever we take seriously the prodigal son’s example! Let us “take shelter at” this amazing sacrament!