Following is a homily given by Msgr. James Bartylla, diocesan administrator, for the fourth Sunday of Lent.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son on the fourth Sunday of Lent is a parable well known to most of us. I’ve often thought of it as the New Testament version of the Book of Job in its impact.
If the Book of Job might be conveniently subtitled, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”, the Parable of the Prodigal Son might be subtitled, “Why do good to bad people?” (i.e., to the prodigal son), and “Are good people really so good?” (i.e., the older son’s behavior).