Originally published at National Catholic Register
User’s Guide to the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 30, is the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Mass readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 or John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38.
Today’s Gospel focuses on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Both sons prefer what their father has or can give them to their father himself. In the end, one son repents and finds his way to the father’s heart. We don’t find out what happens to the second son. The parable didn’t tell us what happened to him because the story is really about us; it is we who must finish it. The question we must answer is this: “What do I really want? Do I want the consolation of God, or the God of all consolation; the gifts of God, or the giver of every good and perfect gift?”
Let’s look at this Gospel in three parts.
Renegade Son
Most of us are familiar with this parable. We tend to focus on the younger (and obviously sinful) son rather than the older one. This is interesting because the Lord Jesus seems to have his focus on the older
