It’s Time To Go Home!

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent, Year C

Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara, CSsR

St. Mary’s of Assumption of Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Is there anyone out there who is still wondering who God really is? Is there anyone in this church who still does not understand God’s attitude towards a sinner? Is there anyone here who wonders how God treats those who have offended him? Is there anyone, who, due to what you have done, still questions and wonders if God is going to forgive and accept you back when you turn a new leaf and return to him? Today’s Gospel taken from Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, provides your answer. Your answer is in the parable of the Prodigal Son, narrated by the Savior of humanity, Jesus Christ. 

Today’s Gospel started with a narrative of how all manner of sinners were coming to listen to Jesus. As they got closer to him, the Pharisees and scribes were expecting him to dismiss, reject and condemn them. But Jesus warmly received them, prompting the Pharisees and scribes to complain, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” It’s either they did not get Jesus’ memo that says “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10) or they simply ignored it. Jesus knew they were complaining about the way he welcomed, treated and related with sinners. He knew they were appalled by his friendliness with sinners. He knew their notion of God was false. So he took a swipe at them and probably said: “Are you complaining that I welcome and eat with sinners? Now, hear me out. Let me tell you who God really is. Listen to this parable.” 

A man had two sons. The younger son wanted autonomy. He wanted to be his own man. He asked his share of his father’s estate. Immediately his share was given to him, he left home to a distant country. Out there he squandered his inheritance on an immoral life, and thereafter became homeless and hungry. Out of desperation “he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.” It was really a significant turn of events for him to be feeding pigs, animals that Jews considered unclean. As his suffering deepened, he came to his senses and decided to return home to his father. But he was not expecting a royal welcome or reception. He was going to ask his father to accept and treat him like one of his servants. Living as a servant in his father’s house was by far better than his present condition. While he was still far away from home, his father, who was standing outside saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He did not wait for him to come closer; he did not turn away from him or yell at him. Instead, he ran to him, puts his arms around him and kissed him. It’s possible the father shed tears— tears of joy that his lost and dead son was back and tears of sorrow at what his son had become. No one should expect a man who fed pigs and lived with them to look good and healthy. As the father was hugging and kissing his son, the young man started reciting a prepared speech of contrition he had composed before embarking on the journey: “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.” But his father was not paying attention to the son’s speech of repentance. He was not listening to his recitation of the act of contrition. He was thinking of how to celebrate his son’s return with his neighbors. But before that, his son’s appearance needed to be taken care of. So, he 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.”

The finest robe and ring the father ordered to be put on him symbolized restoration. When the younger son left his family, he lost his place as a prince and son. But now, the father is restoring him to his place as a prince and son. The father also called for a pair of sandals to be put on his feet. Although the son had asked to be treated as one of the father’s slaves, but by putting sandals on his feet, his father was declaring that his son was not going to be a slave in his father’s house. The father ordered the fattened calf to be slaughtered as well. His son’s hunger in a foreign land and the long walk to home definitely emptied him out. Hunger, deprivation and austerity were written all over him. The father did not want to waste any time to begin to feed his son fat again. The father also called for a celebration with his neighbors. It’s not only a celebration of the son’s return but also a celebration of the father’s immense love and mercy. The father wants to show others how to forgive. When the elder son returned home and heard what has happened, he was upset and refused to join in the celebration of his brother’s return. He surely acted like the Pharisees and scribes who never wanted Jesus to welcome tax collectors and sinners. His behavior was also bad and sinful. Like his younger brother, he too had sinned by becoming an obstacle in the realization of family unity and harmony.

Beloved in Christ, we all are sinners. Whether our sins are more visible like those of the prodigal son or more hidden like those of the elder son, the simple message today is: It’s time to go home. The younger son needed to abandon irresponsibility, wasteful lifestyle, and immorality behind and return home. The elder son needed to leave anger, jealousy, pride, unforgiveness and resentment behind and return home too. You and I also need to abandon our evil ways and return home and join in the Father’s feast and celebration. The Father is standing outside, and looking ahead for our return

In reality, this parable is misnamed. It shouldn’t be called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, because the son is not at its center, the father is. It should rather be called “The Parable of the Prodigal Father”. Webster’s dictionary defines the word prodigal as “exceedingly or recklessly wasteful,” or “extremely generous; lavish.” If anyone is prodigal in this story, it is the father! He did not give up on his son. He loved him regardless of what he did. God is the Father in this story. The two sons are you and me. No matter the enormity of our sins, God welcomes us home whenever we return. Jennifer Hudson says in one of her songs , “I am not perfect, but he loves me anyway. Wasn’t an angel in my younger days. We all have done things, that’s between us and God. He loves me still. He loves us still.”