From Listening to Reconciliation

Fourth Sunday of Lent: Year C - March 27, 2022 

Readings: Joshua 5:9–12; Psalm 34:2–7; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

(Parable of the Prodigal Son)

To listen to my audio-video reflections on YouTube, please click on this link

The whole of Lenten season can be summarised in one word, that is, listening. The Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and penance are nothing but listening to God through the Word of God, listening to one's body through fasting and listening to others by penance. Even though listening is one of the functions of our senses, it is the most complex one. We find ourselves either seduced or duped by this sense organ of our body from listening. Most of the problems of this world could have been avoided if someone listened. Our life would have been much easier if we had listened to others and one's inner voices. The readings of this week have been trying to make us understand how important listening is. It is not our task here to judge whether the Prodigal Son did not listen to his father, or the father himself did not listen to both of his sons or the elder son did not listen to his father and younger brother. This familiar story is a reminder of God's everlasting mercy and love for us. In spite of our idiosyncrasies and flouting God's commandments, if we turn back to God and seek His forgiveness, He welcomes us with open arms and unconditional love. 

1. God: A compassionate listening Father

The often-read story of the prodigal son in the liturgical services of our Church is indeed a fascinating parable, which Jesus narrates to the tax collectors and sinners, Pharisees and scribes. It is not just a passing story. Certainly, those who were around Jesus might have listened to it attentively. The parable spoke about them. Prodigal sons were all around them, the eldest sons were also among them, so too the father.  In the middle of the parable, there is a captivating sentence, which reads: "While the son (prodigal) was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). Jesus emphasizes here the compassionate character of the Father. Even though the prodigal son might not have listened to his father but now the father is all out for his son with a compassionate heart. Father wants to listen to his son who had gone far away. And for the son, it is truly returning to his home and to a place where he belongs fully. 

The Lenten season is indeed a time to see within us whom we own in our lives. Is it our God and His Spirit or demon and his acts? If the prodigal son had to move from his prosperous and compassionate father there must have been something terribly wrong with the spirit that the son followed. Often it is the case when something is going on well, everything is fine, suddenly there is a jolt. Things go terribly bad and everything around becomes miserably distressed. To add to these woes, we begin to search for something that must not come on the way at all. It may be either alcohol or drugs or bad company or evil practices or astrology or going behind the pagan gods or even the new age superstitions. The list is endless. That is why this third Sunday of Lent reminds us to watch our and be on our guard and listen to the right spirit. 

2. Listening to God means following Him wholeheartedly

The book of Deuteronomy (6:4-5), gives what is widely known as the Shema prayer. A prayer that is used by the Jews like Our Father by the Christians. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart." The punching line of this prayer is at the beginning that is every Israelite needs to listen attentively. We see also in the book of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 7:23), God is addressing people to listen to him: "Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. Walk in all the way that I command you, and you will prosper." In fact, people do not listen to God and God goes on bringing attention to their mindlessness and deafness. Jim Miller says,  “God comes into our lives to take them over, not to make us feel good.”

Listening is an art.  Perhaps we often listen for the sake of listening known as passive listening. We need to be active listeners. It is like being there and present wholeheartedly. In a world of distractions and worldly demons, the sincere and honest voices are deliberately blurred. The English literary figure, C S Lewis writes: “And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history — money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery — the long terrible story of a man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” That is why even in the 21st century, in our so-called civilized world we continue to wage wars without hesitation or guilt. 

 We might need to hear something that we do not want to hear. In the Lenten season, we conduct a number of devotional practices like the Way of the Cross. In these lengthy narrations, reflections, prayers etc, often we hardly hear something concretely because there is no time for grasping and listening. Unfortunately, too many words and lengthy paragraphs in our Way of the Cross do very little good to us. Because our Friday Way of the Crosses become just a lengthy, traditional cacophony then real devotional, heartwarming experiences. We could think of this exercise seriously and make some amendments right away. 

3. Our unending conversion to eternity

The Lenten practices, prayer, fasting and penance help to form a new creation in Christ Jesus.  Our Lenten acts facilitate in bringing reconciliation as St Paul himself says writing to the Corinthians: "God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:18). Just as in the parable of the Prodigal son, the father and the two sons reconciled themselves when they opened up to each other about their grievances, heartburns and misunderstanding, so we too are invited to see where we stand in our acts of reconciliation. There must not be a place for pessimism, negativity, grumbling, whining, complaining, criticizing for no reason in our families and communities, when there is dialogue and reconciliation. Without active listening, there is no reconciliation and without reconciliation, there is no salvation. This is the perfect message of Lent on this laetare (joyful) Sunday.  

All that we do and what we are, signify that we move towards reconciliation as it happens in the family of the prodigal son. There is an opportune time for everything including reconciliation and reunification with the Lord. We as believers always move towards that eternal truth. Therefore, we need to carry within us the eternal truth of the Word of God through prayer. Unless and until we recognize that we are sinners and incomplete we cannot make move towards our God who has called us to be His sons and daughters. That is why getting ourselves immersed into the life of God and having our compassionate heart towards others matter a lot in reaching our destiny that God has called to each one of us. 

Questions for reflections

1. How do I spend my gifts and talents in the light of the parable of the prodigal son? Using them effectively for the mission of the Lord or just squandering them like that younger son?
2. What does it mean for me when St Paul says, "you are a new creation in Christ Jesus"?
3. How can I be a new creation starting from this Lent?
4. What is it like being an ambassador for Christ in the messy world of today?
5. How can I feel with the suffering people of Ukraine at this time of the year when their lives are devasted and shattered by the unethical war?

Prayer:

Walk with me, dear Lord, so that I may not be alone as I walk in this Lenten season day by day. Let your presence shine on me everyday of my life. Your joy is a lighthouse in a world often dark with sin, and I pray that I may reflect the light of your truth, to inspire others as I have been inspired. 

Oh Lord and Master of my life, take away from me the spirit of laziness, cowardliness, lust for power, and malicious and idle speech. But rather give me, throughout these days an ample spirit of vitality and force in your service, to the benefit of your glory and the good of my fellow man and woman. Let me act in humility, patience, and decency at all times, seeing my own error and overlooking the faults of others; and let me always know the presence of your Holy Spirit, to remind me of what I have asked, in the name of my saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

24 March 2022

PS: I will be giving an online talk on zoom this Saturday 26th March 2022 starting at 6.30 PM on the theme: "War and Peace and the Church in Czar's land: Russia-Ukraine conflict" organized by our young Jesuits known as digital Jesuits. To get the zoom link please register here: https://forms.gle/MvxM6XLbGKpofFvg9  

I worked in Russia for many years (2001-2016) directing and teaching at the St Thomas Institute of Philosophy, Theology and History, Moscow, Inigo Cultural Centre, Seminary in Novosibirsk as well as taking up a number of other responsibilities. I visited Ukraine several times on work-related matters. We Jesuits have a number of works in both the countries. In fact, I’m the first Indian Jesuit having worked in Russia as a missionary.