Readings:
Joshua 5:9, 10-12; 2Cor. 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
We
are Ambassadors of Reconciliation
In today’s reading, St.
Paul writes: “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of
reconciliation. So, we are ambassadors for Christ.” An ambassador is an
accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a
foreign nation. And so, St. Paul said “Our homeland is in heaven, where
our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return
from there” (Phil. 3:20). We are representatives of our homeland on a
mission to represent God as ambassadors. As we live and interact with fellow
travelers, we often stray from the statutes and ordinances of our homeland. We
must return to the right path, and we do this through reconciliation. We will
enjoy the goodness of the Lord (as expressed in the Psalm) if we live a
reconciled life. When we embody reconciliation and forgiveness, God removes the
shame and reproach from our lives, just as He did with the children of Israel
when they returned from Egypt (First Reading) and restored their lost dignity.
Today’s Gospel celebrates
reconciliation through the story of the merciful father restoring the prodigal
son’s lost identity and destiny. The son may have squandered his inheritance
but never lost his heritage. The father offered him unconditional love and
forgiveness, focusing not on his sin but on their reunification. When the son
came to his senses, he acknowledged his faults, accepted his mistakes, and
resolved to change. To “come to our senses” means recognizing our errors and
deciding to act differently. The father waited for his son’s return, filled
only with love and without a grudge or anger. He did not condemn him but
embraced him with love. Jesus instructs us to be like the merciful Father: “Be
perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).
Forgiveness is a choice
we make after hours of prayer and soul-searching. It is a choice against anger,
hurt, pride, doubt, bitterness, cynicism, apathy, suspicion,
self-righteousness, harboring grudges, and the irrational need for revenge. It
is a decision to let go and let God, an option for liberation and freedom. True
forgiveness cannot occur without prayer. Like the prodigal son, we have
wandered away from God’s love and mercy and have often chosen to distance
ourselves from Him. One way to demonstrate our reconciliation with God, the
Church, and others is through the sacrament of reconciliation. “The
confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view,
frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an
admission, man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility
for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the
Church in order to make a new future possible.” (CCC 1455). During
Lent, we are encouraged to go to confession, do penance, and return to God and
His Church. Confession is available here in the Church on Wednesdays and
Fridays of Lent and on Saturdays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm before Mass.
Many of us have left our
Father’s house after demanding our share of the inheritance. Some came for
baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, or marriage. Once they received
what they desired, they departed, like the prodigal son, and stopped attending
Church. Some may only return when facing difficulties; as the saying goes, “The
grass is greener on the other side of the mountain until you get there.” We
must continually change our minds and return to the merciful Father, who is
abundant in mercy and compassion.
At times, we resemble the
righteous brother who refused to forgive his sibling and resented their father
for doing so. He was envious and failed to understand that the father’s love
was not earned; it was pure grace. Like him, we can notice the splinter in our
brother’s eye while ignoring the beam in our own (Lk. 6:41). We often volunteer
to point out the sins of others. Many faithful Catholics are filled with doubt
and fear concerning God. We are insecure about ourselves and usually question
our trust in Him, fearing His punishment rather than believing in His love.
Lacking experience of
what others endure, we may judge and label them as sinners. We are worried
about being discovered and having our own sins exposed. Hidden sins such as
jealousy, pride, and self-centeredness may control our days and undermine our
lives. We, too, must change our minds and embrace God’s love. Will the brother
ever forgive the other, like their father, and join in celebrating his
brother’s return? Our attitude toward those we perceive as enemies and our
reluctance to forgive may reflect the mindset of the righteous brother. Today’s
liturgy encourages us to be like the merciful father—slow to judge but quick to
forgive. To err is human, but to forgive is divine. It is better to be lost
than to remain unforgiving.
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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