Fourth Sunday of Lent 2025

Today, March 30, the Catholic Church celebrates the IV Sunday of Lent, the so -called Domingo Laetare whose name comes from the first words of the introito of the Mass, Rejoice in Jerusalem “Hall, oh, Jerusalem!”

This Sunday is an occasion to remember that we are about half of the Lent, which means that we have advanced a good stretch on the penitential path towards Easter. While it is not yet conducive to celebrating, it is time to hold on stronger to divine mercy, which has become balm that relieves the spirit and full of hope to the sinner.

The reading of the Gospel today is taken from St. Luke (Lk 15, 1-3. 11-32) and in it Jesus extends beautifully in a story about the mercy of the Father: the parable of the prodigal son.

Luke places us in the context without Rodeos: «… the publicans and sinners approached to listen to it. Therefore, the Pharisees and scribes murmured with each other: “He receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus, then, says a parable. A father had two children. The youngest of them claims his inheritance and goes to a distant land, where he was won, getting hungry. As he ran out of nothing, he went to work taking care of pigs and wishing what they ate. Then, entering himself, he reconsidered: “How many workers at my father’s house have plenty of bread, and I, here, I’m starving! I will get up, I will return to my father and tell him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” And took for the paternal house.

He hadn’t even arrived, when the father saw him in the distance. The writing says: “He ran towards him, and throwing his arms around his neck, he covered him with kisses.” The father was so glad that he made a party for the son who had returned. However, the older brother felt jealous because he had always remained next to his father and he had never honored him with a similar party. Obfuscated, he refused to enter the party. Then, the father made him come to right: “Son, you are always with me and everything mine is yours … it was necessary to party and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has returned to life.”

Pope Francis says: “Today’s Gospel (Lk 15,1-32) begins with some who criticize Jesus, see it in the company of publicans and sinners, and say with indignation:” This welcomes sinners and eats with them “(v. 2). This phrase is revealed, in fact, as a wonderful announcement. Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. This is what happens to us, in each Mass, in each mass, in each church. He is glad to welcome us at his table, where he offers for us … God is the Father who waits for the return of the prodigal son: God always awaits us, he does not get tired, he does not discourage. Too many!AndgenSeptember 15, 2019).

Next we present the reading of the Gospel corresponding to the IV Sunday of Lent.

Gospel of the day (Luke 15, 1-3. 11-32)

At that time, the publicans and sinners approached to listen to Jesus. Therefore, the Pharisees and scribes murmured with each other: “He receives sinners and eats with them.”

Jesus told them then this parable: “A man had two children, and the youngest of them told his father: ‘Father, give me the part of the inheritance that touches me.’ And he distributed the goods.

Not many days later, the youngest son, joining everything his, went to a distant country and wasted his fortune, living in a dissolutive way. After wasting everything, a great hunger came in that region and he began to have necessity. Then he went to ask an inhabitant of that country, who sent his fields to take care of pigs. He wanted to get fed up with the acorns who ate the pigs, but they did not let him eat them.

He then reflected and said: ‘How many workers at my father’s house have plenty of bread, and I, here, I’m starving! I will get up, I will return to my father and tell him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to call myself a son of yours. Receive like one of your workers. ‘

He immediately put his way to his father’s house. He was still far away, when his father saw him and became deeply tender. He ran towards him, and throwing his arms around his neck, he covered him with kisses. The boy said: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to call myself a son of yours. ‘

But the father told his servants: ‘Soon! They bring the richest and tunic tunic; Put on a ring on your finger and feet sandals; Bring the Gordo calf and kill it. Let’s eat and have a party, because this son of mine was dead and has returned to life, was lost and we have found it. ‘ And the banquet began.

The eldest son was in the field and when he returned, when he approached the house, he heard music and songs. Then he called one of the servants and asked him what was happening. He replied: ‘Your brother has returned and your father ordered to kill the Gordo calf, for having recovered it safe and safely.’ The older brother got angry and didn’t want to enter.

Then the father came out and begged him to enter; But he replied: ‘It has been so long for you to serve you, without ever disobeying a order of yours, and you have never given me a kid to eat it with my friends! But yes, that your son comes, who squandered your property with bad women, and you send kill the Gordo Becerro ‘.

The father replied: ‘Son, you are always with me and everything mine is yours. But it was necessary to party and rejoice, because this brother was dead and has returned to life, was lost and we have found it. ‘”