{"id":3443,"date":"2026-03-14T17:33:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T17:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/way2eucharist.com\/?p=3443"},"modified":"2026-03-14T17:33:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T17:33:04","slug":"fourth-sunday-of-lent-reflection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/way2eucharist.com\/ta\/fourth-sunday-of-lent-reflection\/","title":{"rendered":"Fourth Sunday of Lent \u2013 Reflection"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fourth Sunday of Lent \u2013 Reflection<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Father Who Runs Toward Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally called Laetare Sunday<\/strong>, a word that means \u201cRejoice.\u201d<\/strong> In the midst of the Lenten season of repentance and reflection, the Church reminds us of the joy of God\u2019s mercy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gospel presents the well-known Parable of the Prodigal Son<\/strong>. It is not only a story about a lost son \u2014 it is a revelation of the heart of the Father<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mercy of God revealed in this Gospel reminds us that Christ continues to give Himself to us in the Eucharist, which is the heart of the mission of Way2Eucharist<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Son Who Walked Away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The younger son asks his father for his inheritance and leaves home. He chooses freedom without responsibility and wastes everything in a distant land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, he loses everything and finds himself feeding pigs \u2014 a symbol of complete spiritual emptiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Far from home, the prodigal son realizes his mistakes and longs to return to his father (Luke 15:17\u201318).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In that moment of suffering, he comes to his senses and says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will arise and go to my father.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>
\u2014 Luke 15:18 (RSV-CE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the beginning of conversion<\/strong>.
Every return to God begins with the decision to turn back<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Father Who Runs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the son is still far away, the father sees him and runs toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
\u2014 Luke 15:20 (RSV-CE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Jewish culture, a respected father running in public would have been unusual. But Jesus uses this image to show something extraordinary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Father
The father welcomes his son with compassion \u2014 a reflection of God’s endless mercy (Luke 15:20).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

God does not wait coldly for our return.
He runs toward us with mercy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the son can finish his confession, the father restores him completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gives him:<\/p>\n\n\n\n