OMELIE / Omelie EN

27 mar 2022

27/03/2022 – 4th Sunday of Lent - year C

27/03/2022 – 4^th Sunday of Lent - year C

Reading 1 Gs 5, 9. 10-12 Psalm 33 Reading 2 2COR 5, 17-21 Gospel LK 15, 1-3. 11-32

“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come”. We, who are living in Christ, bring novelty in the world. We are new creatures.

Were is the novelty? We feel like we are like everyone else, but we have a hope, based on our faith, which changes the way we see things, we listen to things, we establish relationships with others and the things of the world. This way to be is shown in the charity, which is a love not naturally present nor at men’s will, but it comes from above, so much so it is free and involves even those who are showing hostility towards us. We are new creation, that does not inherit Adam’s life, but is born from God and so it shows God’s identity as a Father figure.

This happens thanks to a conversion on our part, coming back from the jealousy and seduction of owning a power so called “divine”, to the humility and simplicity of letting ourselves be loved, and imitate God’s love, who is Father. This conversion starts with reconciliation, recognising and asking for forgiveness for having given space to sin in us. The Church is accepting our plea and is authorised to give us an answer: its ministers, Saint Paul assures, have the task and own the joyful possibility to re-establish us in God’s communion.

The parable, told by Jesus and recorded by Saint Luke, describes very well our situation. We have become “old creation” by distancing ourselves from God, true Father, but we have the possibility of becoming “new creation” by going back to Him. This going back is not only necessary for they who have distanced themselves physically from God, but also for those who did not make their own His thoughts and His mercy for all men. Nobody can and nobody must feel exonerated from reconciliation in order to convert. Both the sons described in the parable, who represent all of us, are far from the Father

The one who has openly rebelled against Him, and has asked for his part of the inheritance in advance, is a son who is showing distrust in the father and disinterest in the brother. He himself will come to find himself in a unbearable solitude. It will make him remember with longing the times of communion lived in harmony with the family. The suffering will make him humble, and the humility will make him appreciate being a meek son.

The man by himself cannot build his own happiness. The man with his selfishness and his demands can only increase his load of suffering in his heart: this is what we are experiencing every day in our society which is trying to make untouchable for everyone, since they are young, the right to do what they please. The other brother in the parable is telling the other side of the story, the story of whom think they are doing fine because they are faithful to the past, to the traditions, devoted to the family, obedient and unwavering in front of their duty. Not even the latter is a true son. Honesty and obedience are made by him into something to brag about and to use as justification, a reason to judge and condemn his brother, who he has no compassion for.

Men have nothing new to teach us. The healthy and new teaching is coming only from the father of the parable, who is making his the merciful behaviour of the true God. We need to look at Him, focusing, helped by Jesus, on the Father who wants salvation for everyone: everyone have the need to be changed from old men to new creatures, who are living God’s same life, of the God-love. Both those who know they have sinned as the young son and those who have nothing to regret, as the oldest son, both of those groups need conversion, both, in order to become true men, need to establish a loving relationship with one another, and first of all with God. The son who is coming back says, in fact: «I have sinned against heaven and against you», so he repents and ask clearly for forgiveness. The oldest son lives the same sin while he is discussing with the father who has left the feast to talk to him: in front of him he is rejecting the brother and therefore he rejects the joy of the father’s love as well. He is now committing the sin the youngest son has been forgiven for.

God is the one taking care of men. He has chosen a small people enslaved to make it experience the salvation and freedom, and so make Himself known as the merciful, powerful in love. That experience is available to every single one thanks to meeting Jesus.