“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

This statement triggers a parable that reviews the fullness of the human condition: from bad decisions and suffering the consequences thereof, to repentance, forgiveness and absolution. Most certainly, it powerfully portrays the boundless love and forgiveness of God, emphasizing that no matter how far we stray, God is always waiting with open arms to welcome us back.

But the words of the Pharisees and scribes keep coming back to me: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” This is a harsh, judgmental statement, decreeing the unworthiness of certain human persons to even share in a meal — based completely on their status in life. It was an example of the “entitled” becoming outraged that Jesus was dignifying the “unentitled.”

We can imagine the outraged religious elite tensing up and becoming uncomfortably quiet as Jesus introduced the older son into the parable. The respectable one shows disrespect in seeming to say, “Look, I have followed all the rules and nothing has been handed to me on a silver platter. But this selfish, delinquent, freeloader of a son of yours just shows up and you treat him far better than you treat me. It’s NOT FAIR!”

In working for Catholic Charities in diaconal ministry, accusations and judgments eerily similar to those of the Pharisees and scribes are not uncommonly heard:

You entice, protect and coach “illegal aliens!”

You waste time and resources on unmotivated, crazy and addicted people who will always just squander whatever you give them!

These and similar assessments of the worthiness of those we serve, and the enabling factor involved in serving them, start to become like “resounding gongs or clashing cymbals (I Cor. 13:1).” It is the voices of our clients at Catholic Charities that reach beyond the ears and into the soul. Voices that express gratitude, hope and healing.

During this Lenten season, as we seek to follow Christ’s will more faithfully, let us find encouragement and comfort in the concluding words of today’s reading. When we see hopelessness convert to hopefulness — and defeated faces convert to faces beaming with joy and fullness of life — let us embrace the words: “But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

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Deacon Michael Wofford is Director of Mission for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Stockton, CA. He also serves as the Diocesan Liaison for issues involving Catholic Social Teachings and is assigned as a permanent deacon to the Cathedral of the Annunciation. He has been married to his wife, Renee, for 49 years and has 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren.