TOPIC:
A FATHER FORGIVES HIS SON
4C LENT SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 15:1-3, 11-32, MARCH 27, 2022
1. STORY
Several years ago, John had run away from his home. He realized his mistake and
wanted to return. As it was the era before the telephone, he telegraphed his
father asking him to put a cloth on the tree next to the small town’s train
station if he had been forgiven and welcomed back home. John would get off the
train if there was a cloth on the tree. If there was no cloth, he would know he
was not forgiven nor welcomed. He then would not get off the train. John was
very tense as the train approached the station. The cloth was there. John was
overjoyed knowing that he was welcomed home and was forgiven.
2. GOSPEL, LUKE 15:1-3, 11-32
A. FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND AGAINST YOU. The son did two
things.
i) He asked for his share of the property and then left his father for a life
of pleasure. He failed in his duty to his father.
ii)
Realizing his mistake, he returned home asking for forgiveness.
B. THE FATHER WAS FILLED WITH COMPASSION.
The
father did two things.
i)
He longed for his son to return home. He welcomed his son and forgave him upon
his return.
ii)
The father celebrated his son’s return by providing him with a robe, a ring, sandals,
and a feast. The father forgave his errant son.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD, OUR LOVING FATHER.
There
are two things the prodigal son can teach us.
i) We have sinned against God our father. This would include not obeying God’s
commandments of loving God, your neighbor, or yourself.
ii) We need to return to God and ask for his forgiveness. God will always
welcome and forgive our failings.
B. GOD WILL FORGIVE US AND WELCOME US BACK.
There
are two things we should remember.
i)
God is our loving father and will always forgive us no matter what sins we may
have committed. Jesus reminds us of this when asked how often to forgive, Jesus
answered seventy times seven; that is an infinite number of times. God has
given us the sacrament of confession as a way to receive his forgiveness.
ii)
We must be willing to forgive those who have offended us. In the “Our Father”
Jesus taught us to ask God for forgiveness “as we forgive those who have
offended us.” God will forgive us and we must be willing to forgive others.
4. CONCLUSION
The son who had left home was overjoyed learning that his father had forgiven
him and welcomed him back home. In the parable, the merciful father forgave and
welcomed his prodigal son back home. God always welcomes us, his errant child,
and forgives us our sins. God wants us to follow his example and forgive those
who have offended us. We thank Jesus for his instruction and ask him for
strength to follow his example of forgiving others.
