Gospel Reflection for the 4th Sunday of Lent

6th March: The Prodigal Son

When this gospel comes around every three years, there is the temptation to read and pray it too quickly because we are overly familiar with it; son leaves home, squanders his money, goes back home and his forgiven by loving parent. But there is so much more to it than this. This is a story about relationships. The young man does leaves home, and although against his parents’ wishes, they don’t stop him, they allow him the freedom to make his own decision. However, due to poor choices he realises the mistake he has made. Finding the courage, he returns home and is welcomed back with open arms by his parents but not his older brother who is angry and jealous. This could be any modern family, where relationships can often be difficult, strained and painful. Lent invites and encourages us to think about how we treat others. Perhaps during these remaining Lenten days we might ask ourselves, how am I like the young son who left home? How am I like the loving parent who welcomed him home? How am I like the older brother who refused to rejoice and join in the celebrations? We don’t journey through Lent or more importantly through life on our own. We experience God through each other and we experience each other through God.