Fourth Sunday of Lent
An old friend of my dad’s came to visit my grandma not long before she died. She had not seen him for many years. They shared stories about the old days. At one point during a lull in the conversation, my grandma said, “God loves you, it’s true you know, he really does.” She always wanted everyone to know that God loved them. I remember getting letters from her. On the back of every one, written over the seal, were the words, “You are loved.” It became such a cliche to me growing up and all through my 20’s and 30’s. Yeah, yeah, I know, God loves me! So what?
What does it mean to say that God loves you? The scripture readings for today have a lot to say about that. We are invited to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. To love, according to the Catechism, is to will the good of the other. Think back over your life and remember the moments of goodness that God has brought into your life. Notice where you have become somewhat new from the realization that old things have passed away and God has brought new things, good things into your life.
I would invite you to take a minute and slowly read today’s Gospel; Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. Place yourself in the story with your imagination. Imagine yourself as the son demanding your inheritance from your father and then packing your bags and leaving home. See yourself making new friends as you share your wealth with them. Think of what it's like to be partying with all these new friends and coming to realize after all the money’s gone that these were not real friends after all. Now see yourself wandering the streets, destitute until you finally find a job feeding pigs. As you enter into the pig pen imagine the smell of these swine, the mud and slop of that space. Imagine yourself so hungry that you’re willing to feed yourself with the pig food. Think of what that must taste like. Consider your thoughts in that place, the loneliness; the absolute desolation you now feel. You soon cast your thoughts to home where your family is. There were meals on the table every day. As you see your family sitting around the table, you begin to cry. Soon you find yourself internally negotiating how to get back there. “I’ll just be a hired hand, at least I’ll be able to eat well.” The decision made; a few days later you are walking down the dusty lane towards your father’s home; the home where you were raised, the home where you experienced so much in your life. Feel your heart racing as you keep telling yourself that you hope your father won’t be too angry. Suddenly you look up and see him running to you. He is overjoyed to see you. Feel his arms embracing you, feel his tears on your cheek as he pulls you in.
Our greatest work in this life is to let ourselves be loved by God. When we can truly allow God’s love to get past our defenses and our excuses, then we will find it easy to tell others that God is not mad at them; because of Jesus God is no longer intent on holding their sins against them. We can say with true conviction, “God loves you, it’s true you know, he really does!”
Gary Thomas is a husband, father, grandfather, an Ignatian spiritual director, retreat director, artist, and writer. He lives with his wife in St Louis and works as an evangelization director at St Francis of Assisi Church.