4th Sunday of Lent

Reflection written by Bishop David Walker

Last week’s Sunday Readings focused on God’s outstretched hand of mercy and our invitation to overcome our sin and suffering to accept God’s grace. This fourth week’s Sunday Readings, further that promise. The

Lenten Season lends itself to experiencing God’s tender mercy, in order that our lives may be transformed. The more we enter into the Season of Lent, the more we will come to the awareness that God can only be a God of new life for us.

Despite the impossibilities of our situations, there is always faith in God that will see us through. In the first Reading from Joshua we read of the transitioning of the life of the Hebrews who once were in slavery in Egypt and now experience their freedom and satisfaction in the Promised Land. For God provides and

does so abundantly, when we are willing to partake in the Promise to be all God calls us to be. Our Lenten journey is towards the goal of self-fulfilment in God, just as Jesus walked the path of suffering and death, to fullness of life.

Our second Reading from the Letter to the Corinthians speaks of life becoming a new creation in Christ. Last Sunday we focused on the invitation to get up out of our misery and grasp the open hand of God. This week, as our Reading declares, we will find new life in our Lenten journey, when we can live our lives once again in accordance to God’s will.

Our Gospel Reading this Sunday is that of the parable of the loving father and his two sons, and is one of the most enduring passages, for very good reasons. It encapsulates all we have been focusing on throughout Lent, the ongoing invitation to turn away from our wasted living and run into the open arms of our God who is love. The hope and promise, the transformation and salvation, the joy and love of our lives, is God’s agenda and our fulfilment. God has waited behind the scenes forever, waiting for us to turn around and come home.

This Season of Lent is a journey from sin and despair, from careless living and guilt, into the dawn of a new life, graced with hope and joy, peace and love.