Coming to our senses
“Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” (Luke 18:9)
In today’s gospel the Pharisees and Scribes once again question Jesus about why he hangs out with sinners and tax collectors. Jesus responds by telling a story about a father and his two sons. One son takes his inheritance from his father, squanders it, then “came to his senses” and returns home, poor and desperate. The father sees his prodigal son returning, runs out, embraces him and celebrates his return with a feast.
But the second son does not show up to welcome his brother home. So the father, having always loved the second son, goes to him to invite him to the feast. But the son is jealous, angry and filled with resentment at how his father is treating his brother. He rejects his father’s invitation.
Through this parable Jesus speaks of God’s love by reaching out to even those considered to be sinners. The Pharisees and Scribes know they are represented by the second son. Frustrated and publicly humiliated by Jesus’ response, they see him as a threat to their power and seek ways to get revenge and retribution.
This is a story of who God is for us, even in the most difficult moments in our lives. What a wonderful picture to think of God always waiting for us — running to us — even before we know we need God; God’s love embracing us in moments when we know we need to “come to our senses.”
Carrying anger and resentment is deadly. I know people who hold on to grudges, resentment and painful memories of being hurt. Some who live with these memories have the power to destroy those who hurt or humiliated them. It is tragic, sad and alarming.
The hopeful news is that God comes to all of us, offering us a love we can’t even imagine: a love so powerful that it overcame death, death on a cross. And it will be God’s love, living out in us, that will overcome any darkness and fear in our lives and in our world today. There are signs everywhere of God’s love breaking into our world and bringing a new creation. Catholic Charities is a sign of the presence of God’s love among us.
The season of Lent is a good time for us to “come to our senses,” to ask forgiveness and to forgive, to be loved and to love, by again welcoming God’s love in our lives. On this fourth Sunday of Lent let us celebrate with joy God’s love making us a new creation.
Kathy Brown is on the board of Catholic Charities Maine. Previously she worked for Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services and in the Diocese of Phoenix. She lives in Gardiner, Maine with her husband Scott.