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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: March 18, 2007
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
March 18, Fourth Sunday of Lent.
Cycle C. Readings:
1) Joshua 5:9a, 10-12
Psalm 34:2-7
2) 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
3) Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Like most others, our family has its share of psychological and emotional baggage. A particularly difficult part of it is in the story of our own prodigal son. It would have been easier if it had been only half a chapter long, as it was in Luke's Gospel. But it's lasted 15 years. Now that we're almost there, I realize that a journey to wholeness is like following switchbacks up a mountain.
In our case it began with a serious trauma and five people, including the injured one, ill equipped by our human weakness to recover quickly. Unlike Luke's lost son, ours was agonizingly slow to even begin the return home. The home front wasn't particularly welcoming either. But step by step, back and forth, he'd try and we'd try. Even with predictable fallbacks and periodic failures, we progressed. Mostly, I think, it was because we all wanted to so badly. We just didn't have it within our capabilities to make full reconciliation happen.
But we all continually sought God's help and strength. Through it we've grown in understanding; we've learned to love with patience and selflessness; we've matured and rediscovered the unconditional love at the heart of us. In the last year something happened: I can't explain it, but without us knowing how, the slow, arduous journey broke into a trot. Now we find ourselves embracing in the road.
The words of Paul explain what has happened for us through the constant saving act of Christ: "The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." We have a new relationship, a new family life, and Paul reminds us too, "All this is from God." It wouldn't have been otherwise.
QUESTIONS:
What relationships in your own life need reconciliation? What attitudes of the loving father in Luke's story of the Prodigal Son are required to make it happen?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"Your brother was dead and has come to life again" (Lk 15:32).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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