0
0
Illustration: The Return of the Prodigal Son (1773) by Pompeo Batoni
Pope Francis’ Angelus Reflection – 4th Sunday of Lent, 30 March 2025
Luke 15:1:1-11-32
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:“There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on[b] the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c]. But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.“Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound’. But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Dear brothers and sisters,
In today’s Gospel (above) Jesus notices that the Pharisees are scandalized and murmuring behind His back, instead of rejoicing that sinners are coming to Him.
So Jesus tells them about a father who has two sons: one leaves home, but then, having been reduced to poverty, he returns and is welcomed with joy.
The other, the ‘obedient’ son, is indignant at his father and does not want to enter the feast.
In this way, Jesus reveals the heart of God:
He is always merciful to all; he heals our wounds so that we may love one another as brothers.
Dearest friends, let us live this Lent as a time of healing, especially since it is the Jubilee.
I too am experiencing it this way, in my soul and in my body.
Therefore, I cordially thank all those who, in the image of the Redeemer, are instruments of healing for their neighbor with their word and their knowledge, with their kindness and with their prayer.
Frailty and sickness are experiences common to all of us, but we are; all the more, however, we are brothers in the salvation Christ has given us.
Trusting in the mercy of God the Father, we continue to pray for peace: in the martyred Ukraine, in Palestine, in Israel, in Lebanon, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Myanmar, which is also suffering so much from the earthquake. I am following the situation in South Sudan with concern.
I renew my heartfelt appeal to all leaders to do their utmost to reduce tension in the country.
We must put aside our differences and, with courage and responsibility, sit around a table and engage in constructive dialogue.
Only in this way will it be possible to alleviate the suffering of the beloved South Sudanese people and to build a future of peace and stability. And in Sudan, the war continues to claim innocent lives.
I urge the parties concerned in the conflict to put the safeguarding of the lives of their civilian brothers and sisters first;
and I hope that new negotiations will begin as soon as possible, capable of securing a lasting solution to the crisis.
May the international community redouble its efforts to respond to this appalling humanitarian catastrophe.
Thank God, there are also positive events: for example, the ratification of the agreement on the demarcation of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which is an excellent diplomatic achievement.
I encourage both countries to continue along this path.
May Mary, Mother of Mercy, help the human family to reconcile in peace..
