Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C

Enduring Lessons Of The Prodigal Son

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Is there anyone out there who is still wondering who God really is; who still does not understand God’s attitude towards sinners; who, due to what they have done in the past, still questions and wonders if God has forgiven them? Is there anyone out there who still doubts God’s capacity to love and forgive? Today’s Gospel (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32), the narrative of the prodigal son, is your answer. It is one of the greatest stories ever told. It is probably the most famous and beloved of all the parables. Although it is known as the parable of the prodigal son, the younger son who left home is not the chief character that breaks our hearts and makes us weep. The older son, the jealous and self-righteous one, is also not the main character of this narrative. None of the two sons is the principal character that shocks and amazes us. We know people who are like them. In fact, we may have been either the younger son or the older son. There may have been times when we were rebellious and unrighteous, or obedient but cold, indifferent, apathetic, and self-righteous. In light of this amazing story, accompany me as we look at some of the priceless spiritual lessons of this parable. 

First lesson, the younger son represents two different groups of people: those who have ended their relationship with God and the Church and have gone full blown in the pursuit of the goods of this world. They might be good and responsible citizens, successful in their careers, but they have no communion with the Church. For such people, God does not matter. The younger son also represents those who have completely gone off-kilter; they are living wild and reckless lifestyles, wasting good opportunities and talents they have been given. The older son, on the other hand, represents those who choose God but still struggle with jealousy, indifference, ungratefulness, self-righteousness, and a sense of entitlement due to their good deeds. Now, despite the flaws of these two sons, the father’s love remains constant. He is actively pursuing both sons, offering them grace and reconciliation. This parable echoes the truth of God. Divine mercy is relentless. Divine mercy is actively pursuing the good, the bad and the ugly. We are not perfect, but the great good news is that God loves us still.

Second lesson, when the younger son said to his father, “Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me,” he was to the highest degree, insulting his father. He is basically saying to his father, “dad, I am tired of waiting for you to die.” But this obvious insult did not affect his father’s love for him. More to it, walking away from the family, squandering everything and having the audacity to return home did nothing to dampen, compromise and weaken the father’s love. What’s the spiritual lesson? God is not like you. God is not like me. He does not fall in and out of love. God is love. God is kind. God is forgiving and merciful. Period! Every book in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation shines a spotlight on the unwavering nature of God’s love. And the parable of the prodigal son is one of the many examples that illustrates this very reality. 

Third lesson, why did the younger son leave his family? He thought that the pleasures and treasures of the world would fulfill and satisfy him more than his father’s provision. But after wasting his share of inheritance, “with prostitutes,” he found himself empty and longing for what he once had. “He found himself in dire need,” and became so desperate that he was willing to do anything, including tending to swine, a job no Jew is  permitted to do. His hunger was so intense that he miserably wanted to satisfy his hunger with the pigs’ food. What’s the spiritual lesson here? The world and everything in it cannot truly satisfy. Yes, I get it. We sinners are frequently tempted to think there is something out there in the world that we are missing by following the way of the Lord. There is this African adage that says, “Onye nórô ebe óno, ebe ónoghi ana agu ya,” which means, “When you are in a particular place, you long for the other place you are not.” Truth be told, we have great things in this world. Life’s good! Isn’t it? Think of the comfort we have, especially here in the USA. Think of all you have at home. Go to the stores and see the variety of everything we have. Think of the great country we live in. Think of the amazing places you have been to. There are indeed so many things that make life comfortable and pleasurable. But nothing in this world can finally satisfy us. God, according to the great St. Augustine is the deepest hunger of the human soul. God is enough. And God is the Enough. 

Fourth lesson, when the younger son left home and went to “chora makra” (distant country or the great emptiness or a big empty space) in Greek, his new country of residence, sooner or later experienced a severe famine, which also affected him. What’s the spiritual lesson here? Without God, we can experience spiritual drought and famine too. If we stay away from God, we will definitely experience spiritual aridity. No question about that. It will happen. Jesus’ emphatic statement “Without me, you can do nothing” is on full display here. The human soul is in constant need and without contact with God, we will become hungry, and this hunger will cause us to seek people, objects, activities, and money. But time and again, we have seen that none of these truly satisfies the deepest hunger of the soul. The great good news is that God never runs out of what we need. 

Fifth lesson, is it good to keep God’s commandment? You betcha! But salvation is purely a gift. Divine life is God’s free gift. You cannot earn God’s love. In his letter to the Ephesians, the great St. Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast” (2:8-9). Finally, do not be afraid of God. Do not be afraid of returning to God. God does not punish anyone. Rather, our refusal to be loved by God is enough punishment which we bring upon ourselves. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. If you do, he will consume you with his fire of love. God will quench that hunger in you that never goes away. 

May God bless you and grant you his peace!