Thought for the week - 30 March 2025

Today, on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday, the sombre purple of Lent softens into rose. Thinking what to say today, I saw the importance of home and the theme of homecoming woven throughout the readings and mirrored in the focus of Mothering Sunday. In Joshua, the Israelites celebrate their first Passover in the Promised Land, a long-awaited homecoming after years in the wilderness. In the Gospel, the Prodigal Son returns to his father’s house, and we witness the joy of reconciliation. And in Paul’s words to the Corinthians, we are reminded of the ultimate place of belonging, as being reconciled to God in Christ, the one who makes all things new. 

Many of us knows the longing for home. I still remember the first time I was away from home as a child, on a school trip. The adventure and excitement couldn’t quite take away the ache of homesickness. Home is where we are known, where we are loved. Even as adults, we may feel this even on holidays. We visit wonderful places, have lovely experiences, but there’s something about returning home, stepping through the door, putting the kettle on for a brew, that fills us with comfort and peace. 

In my work as a chaplain, I see this longing in patients. They are deeply appreciative of the skill and care they receive in the hospital, yet many long for the familiar comfort of home. For many of us, our beautiful church here at St. Stephen’s also carries this sense of home. It is a place where we gather as a church family, where we are nurtured by Word and Sacrament, where we find connection and belonging. 

The Gospel’s parable of the Prodigal Son captures this longing for home at its deepest level. The son, lost and alone, comes to his senses and realises that home is where he belongs. But the most striking moment in the story is not his decision to return, it is the father, did you notice, running to meet him, even before he’d had chance to say sorry. This image of the father, filled with compassion, running to embrace his child, is one of the most tender in scripture. It reminds us that God’s love is not grudging or distant, but extravagant and eager. This story also speaks to the connection we long for with one another. Just as the father and son are reunited, so we are called to be a people of reconciliation. As St. Paul reminds us, God entrusts us with the message of reconciliation, calling us to build bridges of love and forgiveness. 

Mothering Sunday deepens these themes. Historically, it was a day to return to one’s mother church, the church of baptism or the cathedral at the heart of the diocese. It was a day of homecoming, both physical and spiritual. This tradition reminds us that the Church, like a mother, nurtures us in faith. Through the Sacraments, the liturgy, and the community of believers, the Church draws us into a deeper connection with Christ, who is our true home. 

This day also honours earthly mothers and those who show maternal care, reflecting the life-giving love of God. This nurturing love is seen in Christ’s Passion, the ultimate act of care and self-giving. 

But this theme of homecoming is not just about place; it is about connection. It is about being known and loved. In our daily lives, this might mean pausing to give thanks for those who have shaped our faith: the parents or grandparents who taught us to pray, the friends who encouraged us, the clergy who guided us. It also challenges us to be people of welcome, creating spaces where others can feel at home. 

As we reflect on home, it’s worth considering how the idea of homemaking has changed in our lifetime. Once seen as the primary domain of women, homemaking today is a shared responsibility, shaped by the diversity of modern family life. While the practical aspects of homemaking, cooking, cleaning, raising children, have shifted, the heart of homemaking remains the same: creating spaces of safety, love, and connection. In many ways, homemaking is a sacred calling, mirroring Christian values, preparing a place for us where we feel truly at home. As we reclaim the value of this role in its broader sense, whether in our families, our church, or our communities, we participate in the Christian mission of love and hospitality. 

For some, Mothering Sunday can be a difficult day. Loss, strained relationships, or unfulfilled longing for motherhood, may make this a time of pain. Yet even here, the Church offers the comfort of God’s unchanging love. Like the Prodigal Son welcomed to the banquet, today we are invited to the table, the Altar of the Lord, where we are made whole. The rose vestments of Laetare Sunday remind us of the joy and beauty at the heart of our faith, even amid the wilderness of Lent. 

This sense of homecoming is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who reconciles all things to himself. Our earthly homes and even our church home point us toward the eternal home God prepares for us. In the words of the psalmist: “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). And as St. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”  

On this Mothering Sunday, let us give thanks for those who have nurtured us, for the Church that sustains us, and for the Father who runs to meet us with open arms. As we journey through this Laetare Sunday, may we rejoice in the God who welcomes us home and challenges us to make room for others. Let us find joy in the promise of home, both now and in the life to come. Amen