"Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
"So to them Jesus addressed this parable. “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.
"After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
"When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
"Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.
"I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
"So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
"But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’
"Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
"He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
"He said to 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.’” (Luke15:1-3, 11-32).
Sunday March 30th in the 4th Week in Lent.
I see God’s face of mercy in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The Mass Scriptures for this 4th Sunday in Lent proclaims the Father’s merciful love in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Father of the Prodigal who is a type of Abba Father is kind and merciful.
The Gospel of the Parable of the Prodigal Son dives into the depth of the Father’s bottomless mercy.
This divine Message from Jesus our Teacher sounds too good to be true but is true. God our Father will pursue us with His merciful love to bring us home even when we are stubborn and incorrigible.
How can we believe this with certainty?
God's merciful love of His people is a constant theme of the prophets.
Look at the Tradition of the Church:
The Conversion of St Paul, Saints Francis of Asissi, Ignatius Loyola, John of God, Mary Magdalene, etc.
Faith comes through hearing. Hearing the word and testimonies of Sacred Scripture and and the people who have been touched by God's mercy and believing what you hear.
"I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers." (Luke 15: 18 - 19).
The Scriptures reveal to us in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus Christ as the Face of mercy of God the Father. How do we apply this truth to our needs?
The ABC of Mercy:
Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
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