The parable of the prodigal son has so many real-life applications. How does the story apply to your life today? God speaks through his word and through life. His word is a lamp to guide us through our daily lives. Let the words of this parable echo throughout your day, and see the ways God is calling you home, or telling you to take advantage of the heavenly treasures that are already yours.
God wants to forgive, but we have to ask for forgiveness in order for him to give it. Often we do not forgive ourselves, because—even though we have true remorse for our sins—we do not believe God can forgive us, so we do not listen for him to say back to us the words, “I forgive you.” This is why the sacrament of confession is so important. It is helpful to speak our sins out loud to another person, because by doing so we take true ownership of them. In a similar way, it is important to listen to the priest say the words, “Your sins are forgiven”, because that makes the reconciliation with God more real. Going to confession during Lent—or any time—is great, but this week would be an especially good time to go because it would be an active way to listen and respond to Christ’s calling in this Sunday’s Gospel to repent.
The Father’s words are clear: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” With all the voices vying for our attention, it could be difficult to hear him. Let the story of the Transfiguration help us distinguish God’s voice from the others. Sometimes his voice is the quiet whisper in the wind, sometimes it comes in a cloud that surrounds us. The telling sign is what the voice does to our hearts. Sometimes he wants us to be quiet to hear him. Sometimes he reveals his power. The common effect his voice has though, is the way it goes directly to our hearts like nothing else. His voice has a distinct effect there, and we know it when we feel it. It’s like a homing beacon; it’s the most familiar, deepest, and all-encompassing feeling our hearts can experience. A loud noise may startle us, but the voice of God encompasses, consumes, and overwhelms us so that there is no mistake that it is God speaking. We cannot put God to the test; we can’t expect him to reveal his glory every time we want to hear him. But if we follow him closely as Peter, James, and John did, every now and then he will reveal his glory in his own time as he did on Mount Tabor during the Transfiguration.
The season of penance has begun. Let’s take advantage by looking at it as a time of prayer first, then fasting and almsgiving. From the overflow of the heart we speak and act. Let our words and actions be responses to what we hear God saying to our hearts in prayer.
Jesus continues with his life-changing teachings. These teachings prepare us for Lent, so now is a good time to focus on Christ’s lessons because taking them to heart and remembering them will help us on our Lenten journey. We began the liturgical year with the story of his birth and early years. Now we walk side by side with the great teacher who taught even the scribes at the young age of 12 in the Temple. If they were wise to listen to him then, we’d be wise to listen to him now. Listen to his wise teachings, and you will be a tree planted in the Garden of the Lord, bearing fruit even in old age (Psalm 92:14).
To notice the wisdom of Christ’s words, we have to listen with our lives. We do that by reflecting upon the ways in which his teachings match reality and our experiences. We listen by paying attention to our surroundings, not just by reading Scripture and meditating on it. The contemplation phase of lectio divina is ongoing. We ought to sit in silence for a while after reading and meditating, yes, but that’s just the beginning. We also ought to continue listening for God as we return to our daily work, other routines, and whatever else transpires in our lives.
As I reflect on this Gospel passage, I picture the crowds listening to Jesus. My part is the same as theirs. If I am to put myself in the place of Jesus’ disciples, this episode is all about listening. Jesus is giving us wisdom that is from heaven itself. It is good to be quiet now, because contemplating the wisdom of God’s kingdom leaves me speechless.
Sometimes I don’t want to listen. Sometimes I’m like Peter and think I know better. I hear God telling me to do something and I say, “But I’ve tried that already.” God is not telling us to predict the results of what he tells us to do. He just tells us to do it and to have faith, even when we doubt. Simon Peter did one thing right in this Gospel passage. He listened to and obeyed Jesus even though he doubted that it would make a difference. Let’s pray for the faith to do the same.
In order to properly listen to God, we must know his word as Mary and Joseph did. They were also blessed to be part of a community that upheld the traditions of their people. Salvation was offered to all nations because Mary and Joseph listened and obeyed God throughout their lives and, most importantly, throughout Jesus’ childhood. They kept him safe, they raised him in the faith, they followed all the Jewish customs. They listened. It just goes to show, the best way to hear God’s voice is by staying on his path.
