FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

The fourth Sunday of Lent very aptly falls on the first day of Spring. How appropriate because the theme of our readings is "everything old has become new again." Everything that looked dead during winter will soon shows signs of new life: the buds on the trees and the new leaves.

2. We find the People of Israel have just entered the promised land. They are invited into a new relationship with Yahweh.
The new land is called Gilgal
their new leader is Joshua
the new food is the produce of the land. The Manna of 40 years has stopped

And yet they are connected with their past heritage. It is not merely destroying everything that is "Old"   They have three liturgical practices which echo what they have been doing over the ages. These practices affirm and celebrate God's continuing presence with them. They affirm there is still a connection with Yahweh who has been leading and directing them - even in these new circumstances.
As they come into the New Land, they find

a. First Joshua who succeeds Moses, also has a "face to face" encounter with God. Joshua has to remove his shoes because he is on Holy Ground.
b. Second, every one is circumcised, a ritual which started with Abraham and which ratified the covenant with God. Circumcision was not possible as they journey through the desert.
c. They celebrate once again the Passover - which reminds them that God led them out of slavery. God led them into the promised land. God will continue to conserve them among their foes and enemies.     read this in the previous chapters

2a As Catholics as we go to a new place, a new country, a new church - we too look for the old rituals that affirm we are still on Catholic Holy Ground.
We look for the Holy Water stoop, with which we bless ourselves, reminding us of our Baptism.
We look for a community in prayer.
We celebrate the Eucharist, the new Passover Meal. Jesus invites us into a new or renewed relationship with him, a relationship that challenges us to be open to our brothers and sisters who are hungry and thirsty, who are naked, sick or in prison - these are our neighbours.

Today our "neighbour" takes on a new meaning in the horror of the bombings that take place over the world. As we deplore terrorism, we are called to be open to our Muslim brothers and sisters and not collectively condemn them with the suicide bombers and fanatics. This is both challenging and hard because fear and emotions often cause us not to think rationally, but often cause us to react with a "knee-jerk" response.

3. Our Gospel traditionally has been used in penitential services and we identify ourselves with the Prodigal Son who squanders his inheritance. We relate to him, we acknowledge our sinfulness, we beat our breasts, we say we are sorry. But if we read the Gospel carefully, it starts with "A certain man had two sons." there is no just one but three relationships involved. Two between the father and each of the sons, and one between the two brothers.

Both Sons put a distance between the father. The younger son puts a physical distance as he goes off into a distant country. The elder son hides behind "working like a slave for you and obeying your every command." Both sons fail to understand that the Love of the Father is always there for them. It is freely given. It is never taken back.  There is nothing that they can do or fail to do that will merit or loose the love and providence of the Generous Father. The father will continue to look to the horizon either the physical or moral - waiting for each child's return and as in the case of the Parable, the Father will be the first to "go out to meet" as he did in the case of the two sons.

3a       London businessman Lindsay Clegg had a warehouse property that he was selling. As the building was empty, the vandals stripped it of the windows and floor tiles, painted graffiti on the walls. When the buyer came to the property, Mr. Clegg assured him that he would put back the tiles and windows and repaint the walls, before handing over the property. The Buyer replied, "forget the repairs. I have bought the property for the site. I intend to build something new."
And so does our God. God accepts us with ripped up tiles and covered with graffiti. As we read in the very first chapter of the Prophet Isaiah, the Lord said come let us talk about it, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. God invites to something quite new.

4. The excitement and joy of this newness in our relationship with God is best expressed by St. Paul in the second reading. Everything old has passed away," you can almost picture him like a little child, "look, see, behold, everything has become new because of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ" - can you feel that excitement?

For Paul after the Damascus Experience nothing would ever be the same again. He knows that we do not have his "fall from the Horse" experience, but he wants us to know that because of Good Friday and Easter Events, things can never be the same gain. It has to be new.

We cannot go into a distant country like the prodigal son. We cannot hide like the Older Brother behind rules and traditions. But rather like Ambassadors, we have to once again leave the Father's house and tell the Good news of the Kingdom of God to those who have not yet heard of it, and to those who hunger and thirst like the Samaritan Woman in John's Gospel, "Lord give me some of that water to drink, so that I never have to come back to this well." Lord give us new growth, a new relationship, a new vitality in the RISEN CHRIST.