Homily on Luke 15:1-3,11-32,Prodigal Son

Homily on the Parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, A Lenten Reflection on Repentance and Forgiveness ( Sunday, the 30^th of March 2025)

Praise be to Jesus Christ

A young sculptor had a dream of creating a great masterpiece. When he found a fine block of marble he began to work with all enthusiasm, working day and night, chipping away the unwanted part of the stone and shaping it with the utmost care. Nevertheless, one day, when he carelessly chipped the stone too hard a large crack appeared. Disheartened, he abandoned the sculpture and left it in a corner, convinced it was ruined and of no further value. His shattered dream of creating a masterpiece was abandoned.

 However, after a few years, a master sculptor came to his workshop and saw the broken, discarded piece of rock. With skill and patience, he began to work on it and eventually transformed the damaged stone into a beautiful statue. When the young man saw the finished sculpture, he realised his mistake, not in breaking the stone, but in giving up working on it. What he thought was a failure had become a masterpiece in the hands of the master.

We can compare this story to the parable of the prodigal son in today’s Gospel. He too believed he had ruined everything. When he left his father’s house in search of new opportunities and a better life, he discovered that his dream quickly turned to one of failed hope and emptiness. Like the young sculptor, he thought his life was beyond repair. Yet his change began with one realisation: “I have sinned.” The moment he accepted his failure was a moment of salvation for the son. He returned home to his father with sincere repentance, and the story of the prodigal son indeed became a masterpiece in the Bible.  

The words “I have sinned” mark the turning point of this Gospel today. Many times, we fail to recognise our faults. We justify our actions, blame others, or ignore our conscience. But true change begins when we have the courage to say, “I have sinned” or “I am mistaken.” This is the essence of Lent, to look into our hearts and accept our own failures and mistakes.

We may ask how many relationships in our families and communities have been broken because we refuse to accept that “I was wrong”? How many hearts remain wounded because of our stubbornness? A husband and wife might live apart, not because love has disappeared, but because neither is willing to admit their mistakes.  Many parents and children remain distant, not because they do not care for or love each other, nor  because they do not wish  to be together, but because pride holds them back from saying, “I have been mistaken.” Healing begins when we let go of our ego and pride and embrace humility with a deep desire to restore relationships.  When we say, “I have sinned,” or “I am mistaken” conversion begins, grace flows into our hearts, and true reconciliation takes place.

The Old Testament also speaks of this same truth. When King David sinned, the moment when he became aware of his erroneous ways he accepted full responsibility and cried out, “I have sinned against the Lord.” (2 Samuel 12:13) That is why God forgave him. The Prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) God does not reject the sinner who comes back to Him but sin. In the New Testament, Peter, after denying Jesus three times, wept bitterly and returned to the Lord. The thief on the cross, acknowledged his sins and heard the promise, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

There is an apt and true saying that  “ Every saint has a, past and every sinner has a future,” if one is ready to accept his mistake. Many Gospel examples illustrate this well. For instance, Matthew was a tax collector, the woman caught in adultery was condemned by others, and Mary of Jerusalem made many mistakes. Yet, each of them accepted their faults and turned back to God. Their transformed lives continue to challenge us. During this Lenten season let us accept our faults and say with sincerity, “I have sinned,” “I am mistaken.” Then, like the example of the many saints who have gone before us, we will experience the change God desires for us. True conversion begins with recognising our faults and returning to God with a sincere heart.

Let us pray: O Merciful  heavenly Father, give me the grace to  accept  my sins,  and to say I am sinned , I am mistaken’ to experience your love  in its depth  and to recreate my broken relationship with my fellow being . Amen.

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God Bless…