Fourth Sunday of Lent 2025
“This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.”
Today’s Gospel is the story of the Prodigal Son, a parable Christians know so well we can almost mistakenly believe it to be a true account of someone Jesus knew. Yet it was in fact another story that Jesus created to teach all of the different kinds of people in his audience. No doubt everyone in these crowds hung on his every word, but for different reasons. Some people fully believed he was the long-awaited Messiah, others didn’t know who or what he was but found his messages so unique they couldn’t help but want to learn more, and still others felt threatened by him and were listening just to try to find a reason to discredit or even persecute him.
In the opening lines of the gospel today, we see the juxtaposition of these people, and the context in which Jesus chose to share this story. Luke tells us that “tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,” but the devout Jewish Pharisees and scribes must have been watching this closely, as they took enough notice to complain that Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” We can imagine the palpable tension in such a diverse crowd as Jesus began sharing one of his most famous teachings.
Jesus knew the hearts of those with whom he was speaking. He knows our hearts, too. No matter how many times we hear the story of the Prodigal Son, each time we likely put ourselves in the story to consider how we’re like each of the characters, either the younger son who strayed, or perhaps the older son who remained loyal but was bitter and jealous. Jesus shared all of his parables in order to teach important lessons, so of course he wanted us to examine ourselves in this way. However, we can also consider how we are like those in the original audience listening to his words. Are we more like the sinners who soaked in Jesus’ every word, eager to renew our lives? Or are we more like the Pharisees and scribes who listened with skepticism and doubt, trying to find a loophole to ignore the truth in Jesus’ words so that we can follow our own will instead of his?
As we grow deeper in our relationship with Christ this Lenten season, let us take the time to draw closer to him through his words in scripture. We can place ourselves in each story, and consider how he is trying to lovingly teach us. In doing so, we will more intensely experience the truth of the words of the Prodigal Son’s father, “This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.”
Lord Jesus, help us to joyfully await the blessed hope.
This reflection is based on the Mass readings for Year C. If you attended a liturgy which included the Scrutinies, you will have heard the readings for Year A.
