Rev José Mario O Mandía
The fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare (Latin for “rejoice,” be glad”) Sunday because today’s theme reminds us of God’s infinite mercy and patience. We rejoice because we are reminded that in spite of our weaknesses and failures, God our Father is always awaiting our return.
In today’s Gospel, we see the contrast between two sons, none of whom is perfect.
One desires independence. He wants to be freed from his father’s authority. Eventually, he realizes that leaving his father behind also means leaving behind so many good things that he had taken for granted.
That is what also happens to us when we offend God, when we say “No” to Him. We are left with a sense of emptiness. But we are assured: “a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). When we accuse ourselves of our sins in confession, just as the younger son admitted his fault: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:18-19), God’s mercy takes us into his loving embrace.
The other son, the one who stayed home, is not free of fault either. Perhaps he thought he was. But the wound showed, when his brother returned and was warmly welcomed by his father: “Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends” (Luke 29:15).
Such complaints arise when we compare ourselves with others. St James calls this attitude “bitter jealousy” (James 3:14), which is “earthly, unspiritual, devilish” (v 15).
Contrast this with the attitude of Saint Paul: “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake” (Colossians 1:24). I rejoice!
Saint James says, “wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.” (v 17)
It can happen to us that we do a lot for others at home, or at work, or in church, that we tire ourselves out in service. But we need to watch out that our zeal does not become bitter.
Authentic zeal comes from charity. Because it comes from the intensity of charity, zeal displays the characteristics which accompany charity—it is patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, does not insist on its own way… (cf I Cor 13:4-5,7).
The test of true zeal is the very same as the fount or source from which it comes—charity. In other words, true zeal never goes against charity, because if it did, it would be killing its own source.
When genuine zeal is patient and meek, it prevents us from useless annoyance against evil, vain indignation, indiscriminate sermonizing, bitterness, complaining against others.
When there is true zeal, we learn to rejoice with others, even when the path they take may be different from ours.
The Father’s attitude towards the second son is also one of understanding and mercy. He did not wait for his son to come in. He went out to meet him and listen to him. Such also is the love of God our Father for us. He knows us, he understands us, he beckons to us to come back to the joy of home.
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