4th Sunday in Lent
Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The fourth Sunday in Lent brings us the parable of the prodigal son, which is also beloved and troublesome, depending on whom one identifies with. Those who have reached rock bottom and felt ashamed will feel comforted by the father, who welcomes the child back in his own prodigal and extravagant ways. Those who have always been the responsible child – and sacrificed for it – will feel uncomfortable with the father’s love and joyful reception of the reckless one. The father? He certainly surprised both children. He saw them differently than the world. His ways were not their ways, and his thoughts were not their thoughts. He is more interested in full reconciliation.
Joshua has led the second generation of freed Israelites who trusted the Lord in the wilderness into the place of promise. The lives of enslavement and shame were over (5:9). They were now free to celebrate the fruit of their labor (10 -11) and share in God’s abundance.
Paul instructs the Corinthians that God began the work of full reconciliation long ago. No longer counting our trespasses against us verse 19). The death at the cross and the empty tomb complete it for the Christian believer (21). Faith in Jesus Christ creates in us new hearts and minds capable of seeing what God is doing from a better point of view, and the new creature is now entrusted to share this good news of restoration with the world (20).
The Psalmist declares:
“Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity
and in whose spirit there is no deceit (Psalm 32:1-2, NRSVue).”
Bridging Faith 