It's a Family Thing - Homily 4th Sunday of Lent C

Readings

Almost everyone has someone they consider family. It can be the nuclear family – father, mother, and children. It can be a family of extended relatives.  Some people’s families are no relations at all, just a circle of people and friends that care with love.

It is these families that influence the person you become. We pray that influence is for the good. Sadly, even in the best of families there can be times of darkness.

As a parent and grandparent, I want my children and grandchildren to know goodness in their life. I want goodness to form their conscious in this world. I try to be an example.

That is why my daughter tells this story. My 5 year old grandson comes in and asks his momma, “How was your day?” She answered “It was good, I cleaned the house today.”

He looked at her, “Even your bedroom?’ She said “Yes,” His answer, “I wanna to see.” And he marches off to her bedroom.

My daughter said that in that moment she saw Bill Goss. The only difference is daddy would have had a trash bag in his hand to make sure the room was clean.

Family always wants the best. Parents want the best for their children. They provide in the best they can. They may struggle with the bills, keeping the electricity and water on, or groceries on the table. But with love, family provides the best way they can.

But, children grow up to become teenagers and young adults. They want to be their own person. All of a sudden parents and grandparents and family may not seem important.

But, family will always want best, even for grown children. It’s a family thing.

It is the same story for the prodigal son.

The father worked hard to provide. He wanted the best for his family. Then his son comes to a certain age and doesn’t need family anymore. So the son asks for everything he has coming to him.

The father gives everything the son asks.

Like so many, the son went wild. He sinned. He let the tempter of hearts, the great deceiver; lead him to the darkness of places he should not have been. Soon, he was in the worst of places. In this place, the son learns his life was not as easy as his father made it look.

The son knows the only place of safety was with his father. The son headed home with his tail between his legs.

His father was an affluent man and probably knew his sons entire story: the women, the drinking, the gambling, and even his having to sleep with the pigs.

Yet, the father still stood there at the top of his house looking for his son to return.

He sees his son coming from a long way off. The father runs to his son. At that time, running was beneath a man. It was not something a respectable man would ever do. Running was for women and children. For men, running was only for battles and war.

Instead, this man running to his son was an act of great love. I can see this man embracing and kissing his son with the greatest of love and tears of joy.

The father instantly forgave his son for losing all that he gave him; because his son was back safe and sound. This serious and just man called out for the largest of celebrations. Because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.

It’s a family thing.

We are all prodigal sons and daughter of our heavenly Father. We are all part of the same family of God, children of one Heavenly Father.

Many times darkness is in us. It is in that darkness that we take all that God has given us and throw it away.  We leave the safety and love of the Father for the world. 

We want to be the good and obedient son; but, we too often find our self in same darkness as the wayward son allowing the trickster of this world to deceive us with sin that leads us a place we never intended.

If we get to that place don’t be afraid to return to the Father with your tail between your legs asking forgiveness.

Our Heavenly Father in his love knows everything about us; all our sins, all our weakness, and all our suffering. He loves us so much that looks for us to return to him. And then he runs to us. He comes to meet us in Jesus Christ to forgive us our sins.

Through Christ, the Father is calling all his children back to himself, back safe and sound. Just like my daughter sees me in my grandson, God sees himself in the goodness in us.

When family gets together in celebration there is always going to be a party. That celebration is for all of us. Welcome back those whose heart was dead of love for God.  Welcome back those who were lost.

At our home in heaven, God is preparing a great party of joy and celebration; because this child of mine was dead and has come to life again; this one was lost and has been found.

It’s a family thing. So… be reconciled to God to never again squander the Father’s love.

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another. Amen.