“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20
“So, what do you do for a living?” It’s one of the first questions new acquaintances ask each other. Interestingly, we do not usually say, “I teach,” or “I fix broken bones.” Instead, we say, “I am a teacher,” or “I am a doctor.” It seems that we base our very identity upon the things we do.
Unfortunately, we often apply the same warped logic of fuctionalism to ourselves when we sin. Instead of saying “I lied,” the devil convinces us to believe, “I am a liar.” He tries to persuade us that we are defined by our sins, so as to drag us into a pit of despair. The Evil One wants our sins to own us. God simply wants us to own up to our sins.
Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, which we’ll hear for the Gospel reading on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, illustrates the contrast between the malice of Satan and the mercy of God the Father:
Having squandered his inheritance while pursuing worldly passions, the younger brother in the story finds himself wallowing in despair. He returns to his father and says, “I no longer deserve to be called your son, treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” But his father looks right past the things the young man has done; he sees only his beloved son, who has finally returned after having been lost for so long.
In the same way, when we do wrong, our Heavenly Father does not see us as sinners, but as sons who have gone astray. All He wants is for us to come back home.
Lent is a great opportunity to do precisely that. Take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Confess your sins, and be assured that they do not define you. As Saint Pope John Paul II famously told the audience at the 17th World Youth Day in 2002, “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son.”
If we return to our Father, He will undoubtedly welcome us back as His sons and daughters. He will reconcile us to himself through Christ, make of us a new creation, and then entrust us with a message of reconciliation for the world (2 Cor. 5:17-19). Indeed, our true identity is rooted in Christ, Who calls us to be ambassadors of the Father’s mercy.
Merciful Father, in Your compassion, we beg You to reconcile us to Yourself, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
