"Growing in spiritual maturity"

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s first reading is a very important reading in the Old Testament. After many years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites finally have finally reached the Promised Land. In the desert, had God led them, protected them, fed them and quenched their thirst. Now, under the leadership of Joshua, they have crossed the Jordan and are encamped east of Jericho. From now on there would be no longer be any manna. The Israelites would have to cultivate their own food. In this way, God was inviting the people to maturity, both spiritual and material. Like little children who begin to eat on their own, develop their own thinking and character, learn accountability, make responsible choices and grow up as mature, disciplined individuals, God now invites the Israelites to mature in their faith, in their relationship with God with one another and with other nations around them. I would like to interpret the parable of the prodigal son in the context of the first reading. The story of the prodigal son is the story of two individuals who exhibited different levels of spiritual and material maturity. Like the Israelites in the dessert, the younger son wandered away from home. Just like they worshipped the golden calf, he too worshipped wealth and the pleasures life offers. Just like the wandering Israelites painfully but gradually learnt the meaning of fidelity, of steadfast love, of obedience to God, of living in communion with God and God’s family, the prodigal son painfully come to the same realization. The parable expresses this in the words, “Coming to his senses….” That moment was the moment of his conversion and journey toward spiritual maturity.

Unlike the younger son, he never left home, did not squander his father’s wealth, served his father well and hadn’t once disobeyed him. But in his inability to rejoice at the return of his brother, in his almost cynical approach to life, in his self-complacency, in the seemingly absence of pure, simple love and joy in his life, he exhibits a certain character as well. He too was lacking in spiritual maturity. He too had to come to his senses like the younger son.

If we had to trace our journey of faith beginning from our first Holy Communion till today, what would it look like? When did we “come to our senses?” What level of spiritual maturity have we achieved? Lent is a good time to reflect on our own faith journey and the spiritual maturity we have acheived.