Homily, 4th Sunday of Lent

Readings: Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3,11-32

“Rejoice!”, today’s entrance antiphon begins, inspiring the reference to this Sunday as Laetare (rejoice) Sunday. We rejoice not merely because we are more than halfway through Lent; we rejoice because we know God is always eager to reconcile with us. Today’s readings celebrate this. The Israelites have finally made it to the Promised Land. Saint Paul points out that God has reconciled with us, so we should be reconciled with God. And the father of the prodigal son reconciles with his son immediately, no questions asked. What matters is not how far we have turned away, but God is always there to welcome us back. We have the chance to come to life again.

The younger son in today’s gospel did one other thing to his father besides demanding for his inheritance. He abandoned him. He fled to a distant land where he could not be found. He alienated himself. Remember that Jesus tells this parable after many complained; “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). In effect, Jesus is responding to them by asking, “What would you like me to do? Turn my back on sinners and isolate them?”

The younger son has already isolated himself, turning away from a loving father and a loving God to enjoy as many of life’s pleasures as “his” money would take him. If no one welcomed him back, he would have remained alone; starving for food and for love in a world that had no use for a person without means.

Mercy is not easy to accept when we feel it is applied unjustly. Just ask the older son. He had done everything right. Always obedient, always serving his father, he was the dutiful son. He should be the one rewarded; he should be the one honored. This lavish mercy was unfair. He resents his father for giving it and his brother for receiving it. Jesus does not tell us what the older son eventually did but he tells us what the father did. Once again, the father took the initiative, going to his son and pleading with him to join him in his joy and celebration. The one son revealed himself to be self-centered by deciding to squander his inheritance on dissolute living. And the other son revealed himself to be shallow, doing the right thing so he would be rewarded. Both needed mercy but only one’s need for it was obvious. Let’s pray that we can recognize and accept our own need for mercy.

When we look at ourselves, we can probably see parts of each of the three characters in us. There is the part of the father in us which has a keen eye for those who are lost and a good nose for when a party is needed. There is the part of the younger son in us which wants to grab everything we can and try everything we shouldn’t. There is also the part of the elder brother in us which makes other people pay for our loveless fidelity. All three characters are within us competing to shape our life.

This Lent: let’s pray that the father in each of us remains dominant. There are a lot of people in our lives who are still a long way off, people who need mercy and forgiveness.

Dear friends, I hope you never get tired of me talking about what is going on in our Parish and beyond. The 2022 Bishop’s Annual Appeal is underway! This annual effort enables the diocese to fund a variety of vital programs and ministries throughout eastern NC.  We are the diocese- people of God, united in the Eucharist in this part of NC. The BAA is an opportunity to make a difference in and beyond an individual parish.

What difference does your BAA gift make? Among others.

·        It uplifts those who are down through Catholic Charities

·        It forms the next generation of believers through Catholic Schools and Formation

·        It fills the critical need for priests by training seminarians

·        It supports Campus Ministry to nurture the faith of our young ones attending College

·        It joins your gift with our whole diocese to make the greatest impact

As of today, we are 4.89 percent of our goal with 20 percent participation. I am so grateful to all those who have already participated in this noble duty. Every gift brings us closer to our Goal. Please join in today and be generous as we continue serve our communities, educate the next generation, proclaim the Gospel, and spread hope and love!! I will now invite Roland to share his witness.