Reflection by Deacon Matt

Reflection for 4th Sunday of Lent: 

Joshua 5:9a, 10-12: Our relationship with God is like that of an erring child (us), with a loving parent (God), who is reserved in using strict disciplinary measures. Nevertheless, as with a seriously “erring child,” (in this case, Israel or us), the loving parent (God) must sometimes use strict disciplinary measures. In this case, exile in Egypt, is permitted to awaken disobedient children of God to their spiritual distance from their Heavenly Father. As with any loving father, discipline is exacted out of love. Now, in this passage, the discipline is over. With the Exodus, our loving Heavenly Father opens His arms to receive His penitent children into their new home: the Promised Land. At the end of our earthly lives, the “Promised Land will, hopefully be Heaven for each and all of us.

Psalm 34: “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” We now sing a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for God’s responsive attentiveness and generous benevolence to us; both in good times, as well as in times of suffering. Our God is ever available and attentive to us, no matter the time of day or night; and no matter how desperate the situation may seem.
No matter how desperate our situation or how grievous our sins are, we must always keep in mind that our God is infinitely merciful, loving and forgiving! Our faith in God has to be stronger than our shame over whatever we’ve done, or failed to do that has earned us disapproval from God. God is always ready to welcome us back if we approach Him with sincere and humble repentance and trust in Him!

2 Cor 5:17-21: St. Paul’s letter inspires us to continue our meditation on our relationship with God as a loving parental figure. We can never earn our reconciliation with God. Our eternal Salvation and continued relationship with God depend upon our accepting God’s forgiveness and our having faith in the effectiveness of Jesus’ Sacrifice of Himself, to justify us. Our reconciliation with God comes from faith in Jesus, alone. Nevertheless, our gratitude to God, for saving us, inevitably results in many good works and efforts on our part, to evangelize others. 

As St. Paul attests, when reconciled to God, we become a “new creation.” In Paul’s own words, we’re called to be “ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing (to unsaved souls) through us.” Let’s consider this week whether we’re doing enough to live up to our calling to witness to our Salvation and to invite others to join us in Christian discipleship.

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32:  Now, we ponder further on the immense and tender love of our Heavenly Father, as we focus on Jesus’ well-known parable of the forgiving and welcoming father to the prodigal son. Notice the transformation in the prodigal son. He’s gone from having a sense of great entitlement and pride, to become humbled and desperately aware of his sad situation of unpleasant consequences for his poor life choices.
More than contrition for his waywardness, faith in his father’s compassion and forgiveness provide impetus for the son’s return to his father. The son has great faith that no matter how outrageous his sinfulness; his father’s compassion and love for him are more than his transgressions. Reflect! Our Heavenly Father is even more compassionate and merciful.

Return!  
Deacon Matt