Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year C - 14th March 2010

Homeward Bound

Home-comings are always joyful occasions. When we leave our family to pursue studies, or to live on our own, we discover that the outside world isn't as rosy as we thought. We sorely miss the love, acceptance, warmth and nurturing we had received at home. Homecomings can bring us deep pleasure, a reassurance of our worth, a strengthening of our lives.

In the Gospel Jesus tells us of the joy of the Father at the homecoming of his son. The runaway son realises the foolishness of his ways and turns towards home not sure what to expect. After all he has lost everything including his dignity but the father receives him with open arms and a full banquet table. It was indeed a joyful homecoming.

But there is another homeward journey which in terms of distance is much shorter. It is that of the older brother who remains out in the fields unable to make the brief trip home because of his rage and anger. In Lent the focus is usually on the long return home but it might well be that for many of us the real challenge is to recognise in ourselves the desire to limit God's mercy to those we consider worthy. Such a mindset may still keep us away from our true home with the Father.

This Sunday is known as Laetare (joyful) Sunday or Rose Sunday. During the season of Lent we are journeying toward Easter and today we reach the halfway point. Roses were brought to church as an expression of this joy. It is a day when we anticipate Christ's Passover and rejoice that he has opened for us the way to return to our true home in heaven.

It is also a day for us to reflect on the love we have received in our own homes, especially from our Mums and to wish them a Happy Mothers Day. They are an expression of God's love for us.