True repentance: reflection for the 4th Sunday of Lent

Traditionally, the liturgy of the fourth Sunday of Lent rings a joyous message – encouraging us as we reach the mid-point of our Lenten journey. Today’s Gospel presents the third parable inviting us to consider the joy in the depth of God’s mercy and love. Three characters in the parable, the younger son, the elder son, and their father, weave a beautiful story of sin, envy, and mercy.

The younger son sinned against both his father and his elder brother by squandering the inheritance that had come from his father’s toil and sacrifice. He deeply wounded his father’s heart, for he considered life at home a burden rather than a blessing. When he finally returned, he had lost everything—his wealth, his health, his dignity, and even his self-respect. Yet, one thing remained: he was still his father’s son. His return was driven by hunger, for in his misery, he thought: “How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger…”

The elder son, though he remained physically close to his father, his heart was distant. He lived under his father’s roof, yet he did not share in his father’s heart. He harbored resentment: “Why has my father prepared a great feast for this ungrateful and wayward son, while I, who have served faithfully, have not even been given a small goat to celebrate with my friends?” Angered at the perceived injustice, he refused to enter his father’s house.

Thus, though the two sons seemed different, they were alike in one fundamental way: both were estranged from their father. The younger son left because he did not find happiness in his father’s house. The elder son remained, yet he did not share in his father’s joy. His heart lacked forgiveness and generosity toward his brother. He clung to his own self-righteousness, priding himself on his obedience, looking down upon his brother with disdain, unwilling to see him restored.

The father, who represents God, honored the freedom of his children, even when it caused him great sorrow. When his younger son left, his heart was torn as he watched him disappear beyond the horizon. Yet, day after day, he waited, hoping for his child’s return. And when, at last, the son returned—broken, humiliated, and destitute—the father did not rebuke him. Instead, he rejoiced and prepared a great banquet. The father forgave his son even before he had the chance to confess his sins. With great joy, he declared: “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” To the elder son, he spoke with gentle affection: “My son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours…” The father sought to open his elder son’s heart, to help him grasp the true nature of love—a love that transcends mere obligation and law, a love that embraces mercy and forgiveness.

The merciful father in the parable is the very image of God, who is rich in compassion. His treatment of his two sons reflects how God relates to each of us. Our Lord always waits at the door of our hearts, longing for our return. He pleads with us, as He did with the elder son, to embrace our wayward brothers and sisters, reminding us: “All that is Mine is yours.” In the heart of God, there is only love—a love that does not keep a record of wrongs, a love that embraces even the unfaithful, a love that does not depend on our worthiness but simply on the fact that we are His children and we are created in God’s image. The God whom Jesus Christ reveals to us is a tender and forgiving Father, always ready to embrace His children.

This parable speaks to each of us, for within every heart dwells both the younger son and the elder son. At times, we are like the prodigal, led astray by the temptations of the world, squandering the gifts of grace, only to return to God in sorrow after experiencing the emptiness of sin. Other times, we resemble the elder son, self-righteous and quick to condemn, failing to recognize the depth of God’s mercy.

Our world today bears the wounds of division and strife. Humanity has lost its sense of fraternity, leading to wars, hatred, and broken relationships. The harmony between man and nature has been disrupted, resulting in the destruction of the environment.

Now, more than ever, we are called to return to the Father, to the God of infinite mercy. True repentance is a return—not only to God—but also to our brothers and sisters, to the harmony of creation, to the path of love, joy, and life itself. May we, like the prodigal son, arise and return to our Father’s embrace. May we, unlike the elder son, learn to share in the joy of mercy. And may we recognize in God’s love the invitation to forgive, to rejoice, and to live as true children of the Most High.