Laetare Sunday ~ 2025

 Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; Psalm 34; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

This Laetare Sunday, or “Rejoice” Sunday, we reflect on the story of the Prodigal Son.  While widely recognized, some have asked if maybe it should be referred to as the story of the “Prodigal Father” rather than the “Prodigal Son”.  In the Gospel of Luke, the father in the parable offered such overwhelming forgiveness that it could be called “gift-wrapped” love.  It is certainly cause to rejoice when love and forgiveness is held out to us so unexpectedly as in today’s Gospel.  The repentant young man was prepared to admit his guilt, but the father awaited him with open arms, unconditional love and affection.

The father’s desire to forgive extended even into the unforeseen future.  When would his truant son return? In hope he waited.  We can imagine the prayers that were offered each day as he looked down that road.

The older son’s vision was shorter than his father’s.  Very busy with attending to duties for his father, it seems he focused on himself.  Perhaps he, too, was praying for his brother, but he was unable to widen his view to hope for a contrite return.

In this story with such a great surprise ending, Jesus was rerouting the thinking of the Pharisees (and of us, his future followers).  “Tit for tat” and “an eye for an eye” can be responses to injury but they don’t match the road Jesus wants us to follow, as He has told us in other talks, like the Sermon on the Mount.  He wants us to rise way above our hurts, although we still admit that they have happened.

Let’s look deeper into that wonderful father’s pardon.  The father didn’t excuse his son.  The fault was obvious and couldn’t be denied.  He just decided to overlook it; he let it go.  We doubt that he ever mentioned it again.

The “prodigal father” in this parable is God our Father, now looking down the road to us.  Have we been the source of disappointment for Him?  He is waiting to forgive.

When we are released from the bondage of sin, for example, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, our relief pours out.  Among our human relationships, when we share forgiveness with someone after an apology, we are able to relax with happiness.

This parable shows us that we can forgive others even without an apology.  It frees us to experience joy.  Imagine how free the forgiving father felt after all his waiting!

Are there family members or friends to whom we need to apologize?  What is holding us back?  Has someone injured us?  Let us take courage from the magnanimity of God, and freely forgive.  The road goes both ways… even if someone is not ready to come to us, we can still be ready with that forgiveness and love. When we are, we will soon feel the joy that this Laetare Sunday promises as we continue our journey to the joy of Easter.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us maintain our trust in God the Father.  Let us keep our prayers going heavenward and continue to look hopefully down the road for others.

Jesus wants us to trust His Love.  And to imitate Him and His Father.

I shall get up and go to my Father