Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."3 So he told them this parable:11 "There was a man who had two sons.12 The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them.13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.17 But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.21 Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son."22 But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.27 He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.29 But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'31 Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' "
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before...There was a man who had two sons...The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So the Father does. The son leaves his family and squanders his fortune. With nothing left..not even his pride...he returns home. And the whole way home he’s rehearsing his apology speech. And as he arrives the Father welcomes him with open arms as though he were lost and is now found. And that bugs us...and the older brother, because this kid shamed his family, blew his fortune, and dragged himself home to grovel...and he’s welcomed with a party of all things.
That’s a familiar story isn’t? Second to The Good Samaritan, this is probably Jesus’ most popular, or at least well known parable. And any time I start to read this parable publically, like I did a moment ago, I get nervous right around the first line. I worry that as soon as I say “There was a father who had two sons…”, most people check out. Oh I know that story...the prodigal kid and the loving father. I know that story. We’re the kid and the father is Jesus. Got it, preacher. I’ll meet you at the end when you tell us we can sit down.
Now I’m being a bit facetious, but that’s my worry primarily because that is also my typical reaction. It’s a problem. I’ll admit that. But how often do we hear the old familiar stories of our faith...whether prodigal son, good samaritan, Jesus being born, The passion narrative… how often do we hear them thinking, “oh I know that story” and then check-out because the story hasn’t changed in several thousand years, doubt it’ll change this time.
Well that’s the beauty of faith and the power of scripture as the living word of God. It’s always moving and breathing. The words may not change,...it may all sound the same...but when the Spirit is afoot, we may interpret it differently every single time we read or hear the story. The stories of our faith speak differently to every person in every context. Scripture is alive. The Word of God is speaking and breathing. It’s prying and pushing, nagging and convicting, affirming and rewarding. Scripture always speaks.
That’s why we embody the seasons of the church year. From Advent through Christmas and Epiphany...From Lent through Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost. We enter into the seasons of the church and follow the accompanying passages of scripture not because it’s redundant and known. We don’t journey through the texts of Lent and the narrative of Holy week because we know them. If we checked-out of church and worship because we know the old stories of our faith then we deny the power of the Spirit.
We engage in the texts of our faith again and again because the Spirit is always swirling. We read and hear well beyond the parts we know best, always listening to what the Spirit might be telling us, here and now. It’s why we commit to extra services on Wednesday night during Lent. And if you haven’t come yet, it’s not too late to join us. We are using worship stations, and while that may sound intimidating, I promise it’s not. You and the Spirit worship at your own pace, picking and choosing where to spend your time.
It’s why we have extra services during Holy Week. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. We don’t have worship those evenings just because that’s what we’ve always done. We gather those nights for worship, not just to learn the stories of our faith because most of us know them like the back of our hand. Those services are important because they are they honor, remember, and celebrate the foundation of our faith. That Christ became incarnate, died on the cross, and rose again so that all may have life and life abundant. We knowthe story of Jesus’ passion and Holy week. We know the stories of wandering in the wilderness and the temptation. Weknowthe parable of the prodigal son and the good samaritan. But we never stop telling them. And we never stop hearing them. Because the Spirit never stops speaking to us.
And today is no different. There was a man who had two sons. Now the younger son was arguably selfish and naive, and he makes a bold choice to ask his father for his share of the property. This decision ultimately brings shame upon the family because it’s the same as wishing his father dead. Nevertheless, the father agrees and the son abandons his family, turning away from all that he has and has known to explore the lures of the world.
The son made some poor choices and squandered his property away. He soon found himself broke and unemployed, with a great need. He lucks upon a minimum wage job slopping for the pigs and sinks to rock bottom. At this low point, he has a revelation, actually it’s more of a memory or realization that back home, even his Father’s hired hands lived better than him.
So, he swallows his pride, and makes the journey home. The whole way home he’s practicing his apology speech, seeking the exact words necessary for his father to forgive him and welcome him home. Can you imagine how guilty and ashamed...how scared and vulnerable he must have felt walking up to his home.
And what does the Father do? He does what Jesus always does, he embraces the son with open arms. Adorns him with robe, sandals, and ring. Calls for the fatted calf to be cooked for a great celebration, because what was lost has been found. The son has come home.
This parable sits so well within the season of Lent, doesn’t it? The themes of the parable seem so relevant and appropriate.
The younger son betrays his family. Claims inheritance, turns his back, and abuses the gift. He squanders the goodness he was given. Almost as though he didn’t even know or appreciate what he really had.
He wanders the world, literally to another country, and journeys through his own personal wilderness. A wilderness wrought with the lures of the world. A wilderness that eats his material possession, leaving him for dead and despair.
He experiences a sense of revelation or remembrance. A moment of self-discernment and assessment. It’s such a moment that he turns around to head home...a home with an uncertain welcome.
The younger son arrives home, ready to confess and repent, but before he even has a chance to say he’s sorry, the father is already rejoicing. The sin isn’t given power in the story...rather forgiveness takes top billing.
And how about the father. It was not the custom of the day for older men to run. But this father, whom I imagine had waited weeks or more for his son to return. Despite the shame upon his family and the judgement of neighbors...once he glimpse the dust of his son’s feet on the horizon, he grasps the edge of his robe and runs. Runs to his son. Embraces him with love and forgiveness and showers him with grace. The father doesn’t even give the son a chance to confess...not because confession isn’t important, but because forgiveness is so much powerful. Grace prevails.
We know the story like the back of our hand don’t we? Its characters and parallels?
So often the story bates us into relating to the younger son.. Perhaps we too have been short-sighted, naive, and lost? ...wandering on our own, squandering the gracious gifts we have been given to pursue the lure of worldly temptations? Most of all the parable then reminds us of a Father so loving and forgiving, that grace is freely and abundantly given. Without condition? That maybe confession isn’t a prerequisite for God’s grace, but rather an expression of it?
The story then calls us to our own experience of self-assessment and discernment. Have you wandered and squandered? Are you ripe for repentance? Scared to return to the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, body, and mind? It’s an easy and honest parallel for us to make. Us as the younger son.
But I think it does us well to remember why Jesus told us this parable in the first place. In verse 1, he says, Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” They were grumbling that Jesus welcomes all to the banquet table. Not only welcomes, but seeks out. Pulls up the edge of his robe and runs after. Welcoming them home with an embrace of forgiveness before that have a chance to fully confess their sin. They were appalled and disgusted that Jesus would conduct himself in such a way.
Remember now, there was a man who had two sons. And the older son offers a more convicting reality for us. Perhaps we find ourselves with the older son? Hard-working, patient, and obedient. Going the extra mile in our faith. Taking the extra steps to ensure that the gifts promised to us are rightly accepted? Maybe you relate to the older son, annoyed by God’s ability to forgive again and again, people who you may think don’t deserve it. Angry at the father’s unconditional forgiveness? Frustrated at how delighted God can be to find the squandering sinners and welcome them home? Are you ever weary that perhaps the repentant sinner isn’t worthy of celebration just yet? Good for them for repenting, but are they really worthy of such an extravagant party?
Both sons have something to teach us.
The father leaves his house for both sons. Pursues them both. Invites them both to the banquet. And most of all, ensures them both that his love is endless and abounding, steadfast and abundant. It never wavers. And it never judges.n
We know this story, don’t we? The story of a God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. A God who waits in the most abiding way as we wander restlessly in our faith? A God who pours out the most abundant and gracious gifts of grace and forgiveness...again and again despite our squandering. A God so loving and caring. A God that dines with sinners and offers the most outlandish celebration for each and every sinner. A God who always, always, always welcomes us home. And it’s not so much THAT God welcomes us home again and again, but the way God welcomes us home. With open arms and persistent forgiveness. Running to us. Again and Again. Pursuing us with love and mercy.
We know this story, don’t we?
This is why we participate in the season of Lent and the Great Three days of Holy Week. Not simply to hear again the stories we know...but to know that we are apart of God’s story. To experience the radical love of a Father for his son. For his children.
Amen.
© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached 03.31.2019 at St. Mark's JAX
I love your line: The sin isn’t given power in the story...rather forgiveness takes top billing.
ReplyDeleteAnother fine sermon, Pastor!