Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year C) “Laetare Sunday” – 30th March 2025

Quick Glance Summary

• Theme: Coming Home to Mercy
• Key Message: God's mercy is abundant, personal, and freely given; we are invited to receive it joyfully and to share it.
• First Reading (Joshua 5:9a, 10–12): Israel celebrates the Passover in the Promised Land for the first time, signifying a time of rejoicing because of the end of their wilderness journey and the beginning of a new life of providence.
• Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 34:2–3, 4–5, 6–7): A psalm of thanksgiving and personal rejoicing — “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
• Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:17–21): Paul declares that anyone in Christ is a new creation and entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.
• Gospel (Luke 15:1–3, 11–32): We see the providence in the father of the Prodigal Son, firstly through the boundless mercy he extends him and secondly through the challenge the father makes to the dutiful (but joyless) elder brother.

Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year C) – 30th March 2025

Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place, and he began to be in need. So he hired himself out to a local farmer, who sent him to the fields to feed pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods the pigs were eating; but no one gave him anything.

Then he came to himself and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me like one of your hired hands.”’

So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

Now his elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. He asked one of the servants what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’

Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered, ‘Listen! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you’ve never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’

Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Overview of the Gospel Passage

This profound parable reveals the depth of divine mercy and the tenderness of God’s fatherly heart. The younger son represents those who stray far, not only physically but spiritually, yet who dare to return. His repentance is simple and sincere, and the father's welcome is immediate and overflowing.

The elder son, however, represents the faithful who may struggle with resentment or self-righteousness. His inability to rejoice in his brother’s return speaks to the challenge of receiving God's mercy with humility — and extending it without condition. Jesus leaves the parable open-ended: Will the elder son enter the house and join the celebration?

Connecting the Gospel to Cultural and Spiritual Life Today

Illustration: When Forgiveness Feels Too Good to Be True

The story of the Prodigal Son taps into a universal experience — the longing for a second chance and the fear that we might not deserve it. Quite a contrast to ‘cancel culture’. 

In a culture obsessed with performance and justice, the idea of unearned forgiveness can feel scandalous. We often hear phrases like “they got what was coming to them,” or “you make your bed, you lie in it.” But grace operates differently.

There’s a story from a time of war. A young soldier who deserted his unit in fear. He was caught and sentenced to death. His mother went to Napoleon himself and begged for mercy. Napoleon said justice demanded death. She replied, “I’m not asking for justice. I’m asking for mercy.” Napoleon responded, “He doesn’t deserve it.” She said, “If he deserved it, it wouldn’t be mercy.” He pardoned the boy.

This parable invites us to rejoice in the same mercy from God — mercy for ourselves, and mercy for others. Lent, especially Laetare Sunday, is a reminder that God delights in our return, not in our perfection.

Reflection:

Like this Holy Year, Lent offers us a time to reflect on our life’s journey. The Prodigal Son reminds of our journey: encouraging us to return to God without hesitation, encouraging us to know we are warmly welcomed by God when we do return. The Prodigal Son’s father is an image of our heavenly Father, lavish in mercy, not even letting the Prodigal Son finish the apology that he had prepared. Whatever harsh notions we may project on to God, whatever harsh notions others may have encouraged us to project on to God, it is time to let them go. As in any close relationship where there has been trouble, the journey back may be difficult, the apology may be hard to make or to accept, but there is a peace and joy in being reconciled… and allowing that basic trust to grow back. 

The elder brother merits mention. His outward shell of duty seems to harbour jealousy and resentment. His love seems ‘cold’, something he feels he has ‘earned’, something he feels he is entitled to, not something he has been freely given. He seems fragile. He is keeping up appearances, but these appearances fracture when he takes offence. He is not aware of his own failings. He is faithful but joyless. He struggles when he sees his brother forgiven. He is a reminder of what can happen to us when we don’t count our blessings, when we don’t acknowledge our own gifts, when we don't thank God who gave them to us, when we don’t practise a sense of God-with-us in our prayer. God wants us to be content with who we are. It’s important to know that no one gets everything: even the most gifted of people have their crosses to carry.

Reflection Questions with Responses

1. Who or what groups might find these readings especially helpful?

• Those estranged from their families or from God — they may see hope in the father’s embrace.
• People returning to the Church — the message of welcome is deeply affirming.
• Caregivers and parents — who often wait, pray, and love with patience, can find themselves mirrored in the father's role.
• Long-time parishioners — may be gently challenged to move from duty to joy in others’ healing.

2. What human weaknesses do they address, and what virtues do they aim to strengthen?

• Weaknesses: self-righteousness, resentment, guilt, escapism, and fear of not being loved.
• Virtues: humility, repentance, forgiveness, joy, compassion, and familial love. The father is a model of mercy; the younger son of humility; the elder son of unrecognised bitterness.

3. What is the feeling tone of each reading?

• First Reading: Celebration and renewal.
• Psalm: Grateful praise.
• Second Reading: Reconciliation and mission.
• Gospel: Deeply emotional — moving from loss to joy, from bitterness to belonging.

4. Which saints or well-known figures exemplify the message of each reading?

• St. Ignatius of Loyola — like the Prodigal, his life turned from vanity to vocation.
• St. Teresa of Ávila — her journey of returning to deeper prayer mirrors ongoing conversion.
• St. John Paul II — often spoke of the “culture of mercy” needed in the modern world.
• St. Leopold Mandić — known for his tireless service in the confessional.

5. What works of art, poems, or pieces of music provide insight into the message?

• Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son” — captures the embrace of mercy.
• Henry Nouwen’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son” — a spiritual classic.
• “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” — a hymn of invitation and return.
• Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling — especially the image of the hand reaching out, echoing the Father’s pursuit.

6. Where has the message of these readings been true in my life or those close to me, and is there a story I can share about that?

Many priests recall profound confessions during Lent — someone returning after 20 or 30 years. In those moments, tears flow freely, not because of guilt, but because of the overwhelming surprise of being welcomed.

One priest shared the story of a young man who left home after a deep falling out, cutting off all contact. Years later, after his own crisis, he returned unannounced. His father, without hesitation, threw open the door, hugged him, and simply said, “You’re home.” That’s the Gospel — not earned, but given.

First Reading – Joshua 5:9a, 10–12

The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have removed from you the disgrace of Egypt.”

While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month. On the day after the Passover, they ate the produce of the land: unleavened cakes and parched grain.

The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

Second Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:17–21

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.