4th Sunday of Lent (Lætare Sunday)
The prodigal son sinned gravely against God and against his father. Not even the sincere movement of his conversion is free from self-interest: “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger” (Lk 15:17). Nevertheless, he accepts with simplicity the humiliation of being forgiven and his father’s expressions of joy at his return, safe and sound. He could never have imagined such a reaction, but, although certainly surprised, he allows himself to be forgiven.
In fact, just as important as being willing to forgive is to accept forgiveness when it is offered. Both attitudes are necessary elements for true restoration.
And the older son? He has never sinned! Or at least that is what he thinks of himself: “I never disobeyed your command” (Lk 15:29). Is it really true that he had never sinned against his father? Nemo repente fit summus, nothing big happens suddenly: if at this supreme moment he goes against his father’s wishes for his brother, it means that he had already done so before… Yes, the eldest son sinned; he sinned out of pride, anger and envy. And he rejected his father’s insistent invitation to participate in the forgiveness given to his brother. Was his sin only a light one? It is a good question…
Of course, it was God himself who had given every grace to the ungrateful son who had squandered his father’s goods, from the first remorse of his conscience “while he was yet at a distance” (Lk 15:20), as well as to the proud son who did not want to forgive. Like the manna given freely to the Israelites for forty years in the desert, recalled in the first reading (Jos 5:9a, 10-12), so He distributes His graces to poor sinners. In fact, is always the Lord who brings about conversion, but it never happens without the consent of the sinful soul, who must accept being healed. What was the eldest son’s final reaction? The parable does not say.
The Liturgy of this Lætare Sunday invites us to joy, consisting in two different but harmonious attitudes. Firstly – like the prodigal son – to allow ourselves to be forgiven with simplicity, humbly accepting God’s mercy. Secondly – differing from the elder son – to be ready to forgive others, willingly accepting the forgiveness that God wants to grant them.
Divine Providence ordained that Mary Most Holy bring about what St. Paul describes in the second reading: “in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor 5:19). It is She who obtains from God the grace of conversion for the “prodigal sons”, for the “elder sons”… as well as for us. Let us ask Our Lady to free us from impenitence and pride. ◊
