Ambassadors of
Reconciliation
Meditation
for 4th Sunday of Lent
(Joshua 5:9, 10-12; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32)
The beautiful parable of the prodigal son highlights the
story of a man who was free in his father’s house but he did not know it. He thought
that living within the reference of his father restricted his freedom. He had
abundance to eat in his father’s house, yet he was hungry! He had a family,
companions and servants around him, still he was lonely. His father provided
all he needed, still he made more demands. All he wanted was to be the center
of his own world; he wanted to become his own reference for freedom, and to
have freedom without accountability and responsibility.
His generous father would not deny his son what belonged to
him. So, this young man gathered all he got from his father and travelled into
a far country—far away from the reign of his father. In this long distant
country, selfishness is the principle of life, while momentary emotion is the operational
law. This is our journey into the land of sin! Insatiable and uncontrollable desires
lure us far away from the state of grace, where God reigns and watches over us.
Like the prodigal son, we soon discover that life outside the reign of grace is
expensive, exhausting and unsustainable. The clamour it brings soon gives way
to emptiness, pain and misery. Then, the prodigal son realized that his human
smartness failed him, and that he hungered for the wrong things, and abandoned
the ones that truly loved him. He realized that his father’s love and
generosity cannot be found elsewhere, except within his father’s presence. So,
he began the journey home!
On getting home, the young man said, “Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
But the father’s love and generosity were deeper than the man’s contrition, for
he restored him to his dignity as ‘son’, and even adorned him with greater
glory. Imagine the prodigal son wearing the gorgeous robe, the sparkling ring,
the polished shoes, and being served the delicious fatted calf…! Even the elder
son could not understand this level of forgiveness. This is the mystery of God’s
love and mercy shown to us sinners in Christ Jesus, for in Christ God was reconciling
the world to Himself (2 Cor 5:19). The image of the merciful father comes alive
in Jesus, since He is the image of the unseen God (Col 1:15).
Jesus takes upon Himself, the waywardness of God’s prodigal
children to lead us back home like the good shepherd. “All we like sheep have
gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on
him the iniquity of us all” (Is 53:6). This restored sonship is the new life we
have in Jesus Christ, in whom we are forgiven and qualified to share in the
inheritance of the saints in light (Col 1:12-14). So, like the Israelites in
the first reading, set free from the far away land of slavery in Egypt, and who
gathered to eat the fruits of the land of freedom at Canaan, we gather around
Jesus at the Eucharistic table. He has become for us the First Born among many
brothers and sisters (Rm 8:29).
Therefore, “Whoever is in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). In Jesus, our
desires have me their satisfaction; our hunger is quenched. No more shall we make
our feelings and ego the center of our lives, instead, Jesus is our reference
point. In Him we enjoy the freedom of God’s children. “Everyone who sins is a
slave to sin…but if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn 8:34-36).
We are ambassadors for Christ, bearing within us the good news of God’s mercy
and forgiveness. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Act 17:28).
Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday March 27th, 2022.
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