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Below you will find a reflection for today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent 2016. We encourage you to share this reflection by forwarding this email to others who you think might appreciate it.
Fourth Sunday of Lent
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Lk 15:2)
 This is the complaint of the Pharisees and scribes about Jesus. In response he tells them a series of parables, including the one in today's gospel, the parable of the lost son: the story of the younger son who asks for and then squanders his father's inheritance, of his father's joyful response at his return, and of the older son's jealousy of the father's extravagant welcome. Many of us might find it comforting to identify with the younger son in this story, trusting that even if we make poor choices and misuse God's gifts, we can still be welcomed home joyfully. A few of us might even identify with the father, as we think of loved ones in our lives we would gladly welcome home if given the chance.
But how many of us identify with the jealous older brother? How many of us begrudge God's generous mercy towards those who have made huge mistakes? How many of us realize that we, too, are called to model mercy? Certainly ours is not a society that tends towards mercy. Those who are poor are often blamed for their lot. Those with any kind of prison record may struggle to find work and acceptance. And those on death row continue to be executed in the name of "justice"...
To read this entire reflection, click here.
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