March 2 2024: Bible Verse of the Day – The Parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32 – Saturday of the Second Week of Lent, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C
Jesus addressed this parable to Pharisees and scribes who complained, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them, He addressed this parable of the prodigal son.
11 “A man had two sons,
12 and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.
13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. – Luke 15:11-32
Today’s Teaching About The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Today’s reading begins to teach us about the need to stop being jealous and judgemental of those sinners who have repented, mended their ways, and turned back to the Lord.
The Scribes and the Pharisees saw Jesus happily welcoming to His presence the tax collectors and sinners who were seeking His audience.
They wondered why Jesus, who “claimed to be the Holy One of God”, could mingle with these sinners.
But using several parables including this Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus teaches them about God’s unconditional love and providence, the importance of repentance and forgiveness, the dangers of jealousy and resentment, the value of humility, and the joy that comes from being reunited with God and loved ones.
Importance of Repentance and Forgiveness
As human beings, our hearts and thoughts usually gravitate toward sin and immorality. This sin is against God’s Holy will and leads us away from the presence and goodness of God.
With our own conscious, we immerse ourselves into worldly sin thinking that this is where real happiness, comfort, and tranquility is found.
But contrary to that, we suffer greatly in that state of sin because we confine ourselves in a dark corner away from God’s presence.
It is in this suffering that we remember God’s love, kindness, and providence that we used to enjoy before sin, can enjoy, and will enjoy if we come out of that state of sin. We also realize that we are suffering because we are still in a sinful life.
Just like the prodigal son realizes the error of his ways and returns to his father, asking for forgiveness, we too are encouraged today to make a deliberate and intentional decision to get out of sin.
We are told to go down on our knees, repent and beg for forgiveness from God and literary walk away from that environment that leads us to sin and enter into a different environment that helps us stay away from sin, grow and utilize our talents and ultimately growing rich while still loving, serving and praising God.
When we do this, our Heavenly father forgives us and together with the angels and saints rejoice in Heaven, welcomes us back to His presence where “everything we ask for in God’s name is granted unto us”.
No Need for Jealousy and Resentment
The elder son in the parable becomes jealous and resentful towards his younger brother for being welcomed back with such warmth and celebration. This highlights the danger of jealousy and the importance of letting go of grudges and bitterness.
God has enough for everyone and no human being should claim that everything in the world is theirs. You should not be jealous that your brother or sister has been blessed with something by God, because all things in this world belong to God and He gives to whoever He wants no matter the circumstances.
Are you aware that in His kingdom, if God gave you even 0.0000000000001% (just say the smallest fraction) of His possession, you will be overwhelmed? You cannot even finish it in a million years. Why then would you be jealous of your brother if they are given anything by God?
The Importance of Humility
The prodigal son humbles himself before his father, recognizing his mistake and expressing his remorse. This teaches us the importance of humility in our relationship with God and others.
The Value of Family and Community
The parable emphasizes the importance of family and community and the joy that comes from being reunited with loved ones.
For example, if a priest falls into sin and his name gets tarnished all over, if he repents and mends his ways, he becomes even a better priest and in the eyes of God, he is a beloved son. So do not continue condemning him for his past mistakes. Accept him back to the parish, welcome him back to our families and community so that he feels part and parcel of the Christian Community.
Overall, the Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us about God’s unconditional love and divine providence, the importance of repentance and forgiveness, the dangers of jealousy and resentment, the value of humility, and the joy that comes from being reunited with loved ones.
A Short Story About the Importance of Repentance and Forgiveness
Once upon a time, there was a carefree young man named Jack who lived with his father on their large estate. Jack was known for his reckless behavior, and one day, he stole a significant amount of his father’s property and sold it for a large sum of money.
With his newfound wealth, Jack squandered the money on parties, gambling, and other vices, living a life of luxury without any regard for the consequences. But as time went by, Jack’s money ran out, and he found himself in dire conditions.
Realizing the gravity of his mistakes, Jack felt ashamed and guilty for what he had done. He knew he had hurt his father deeply, and he decided to return home to seek forgiveness and make things right.
When Jack arrived back at his father’s estate, he was hesitant to approach him, fearing that he would be rejected and punished for what he had done. But to his surprise, his father welcomed him back with open arms, despite what he had done.
The father forgave Jack for his reckless behavior, and they sat down together to make amends. Jack promised to work hard to repay his father for what he had done, and he worked tirelessly on the farm to make things right.
Despite attempts by his brother to oppose his coming back, their father insisted that Jack had the right to stay and remain at home because he had realized his mistakes and repented them willingly. Also the father had willingly forgiven him and welcomed him back home.
Through this story, we see the importance of repentance and forgiveness. Even when we make grave mistakes and hurt those we love, it is never too late to seek forgiveness and make amends.
And when we show remorse for our actions and take responsibility for our mistakes, we can be forgiven and begin to rebuild our relationships with those we have hurt.
Prayer: Lord, please have mercy upon me and heal me of my sins. Free me from all tendencies toward judgmentalness and help me, in imitation of You, to love and welcome the sinner in my midst so that I, as a sinner, will be welcomed by You. Jesus, I love You. Amen.
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