3/30/2025 - 4th Sunday of Lent

This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again 

In the 1970s, there was a judge in New York City who was notorious for his gentle treatment of criminals by setting low or no bail for many of them. He inherited the nickname “Cut ‘em loose Bruce”. He inspired a character on a TV show known as “Let ‘em go Joe.” He aroused great resentment on the part of the people who wanted strict justice. These people could identify with the older brother in today’s parable the prodigal son. Even the prodigal son himself agrees that he deserves to be treated harshly. He tells his father, “I no longer deserve to be called your son. Just treat me like one of your hired workers and give me a job.” But Jesus tells us that God is not like that. He’s a ”Let ‘em go God.” He not only takes the boy back into the family; he even throws an elaborate party for him! 

Don’t get me wrong, God does not deny the reality of sin. He is not an old sentimentalist who closes His eyes to our shortcomings and sinfulness. He is saddened and displeased when He sees some of the things we do to one another. But He is much bigger than we would ever imagine. In this parable Jesus gives us an example of how to temper justice with mercy. He tells us to be merciful and ready to forgive, and not to be too insistent on calibrating the scales of justice. 

The older son is jealously angry and says, “Father, look at all the money he threw away!” The father simply responds, “He’s my son! He’s your brother!”

This is a hard lesson to learn. But it is one that our world desperately needs to take to heart. In a world wracked by injustice, crime, terrorism, corruption, and war, there is so much righteous indignation! So many scores to settle! So much understandable desire to get even, to get revenge. There are real justice issues here. But peace will never come as long as people insist on 100 percent justice. Someone has to be willing to walk the extra mile. Someone is going to have to be ready to forgive. Without reconciliation, there can be no peace. And that goes for our private dealings with one another, as well.

Let’s pray today that God grant us a little bit of His great big merciful and loving heart. Pray for help to hate the sin and love the sinner, to overcome the natural urge for vengeance and go for the supernatural virtue of forgiveness. Like the older brother in the parable, we are rightfully annoyed at the way people waste their lives and the lives of others. But God reminds us: they’re His children, they’re our brothers and sisters. It’s all in the family. So show mercy, forgiveness and “let ‘em go.” 

Ask yourself: How can this parable help me when I find it hard to forgive someone?

Deacon Rob Pang