March 22, 2025

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Lectionary 235

Luke 15:1-3,11-32:

Meditation

Can you imagine yourself doing what the father of this prodigal boy did? Your son goes off and engages in all sorts of immoral and maybe illegal things, and all of it with your funds. He returns home, not because he loves you, but because he's broke and wants to use your goodness further. More likely than not, you'd take him to task in these or similar terms: "What are you crawling back to me for? Because my money is gone now? You'd better shape up and get serious, you good-for-nothing, before you land in jail! You've got your nerve coming back here."

And yet, maybe you would say no such thing. Neither did the father of the prodigal. He gave his son an exultant homecoming. Despite all our sinning and misuse of his gifts, nothing can keep our loving and merciful God from wanting to hug us and shower us with gifts and celebrations to remember.

Most of us can identify with the prodigal son. At times, however, we act like the elder son and get angry when we feel we have been taken for granted or slighted. Perhaps we are tempted to pout, sulk, and refuse to rejoice when the lost are found. All we need to do is recall that we have all been prodigals who needed a warm welcome back home.

The heart of the La Salette message is conversion. It is a return to the Father that will mean an unforgettable celebration. "If they are converted," Mary said, "rocks and stones will be changed into mounds of wheat, and potatoes will be self-sown in the fields." Mary's words call us back to life's realities and our faith's demands. If this wonder is to happen, we must return to the Father with all our hearts.