We Know This Story, Don't We? - Sermon on Luke 15:1-3; 11-32b

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

The Beginning - Sermon on Mark 1:1-8 Advent 2B

Listen to sermon here.

Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

This is Mark’s nativity story.  There is no decree for census.  No overcrowded motels.  No journeys on a donkey.  No stable. No animals, other than the locusts John is eating.  No shepherds, wise men, or angels.  Nothing that resembles our childhood Christmas pageant.

It’s a far dispatch from the scene we’re familiar with this time of year.  On Wednesday, when I was hanging out with my new friends in preschool chapel we talked about manger scenes.  I showed them one of my favorite scenes, which is made of knitted snowmen dressed to match the parts of a classic nativity.  For Mark, there is none of that, at least not in a sentimental “once upon a time” scene.  

No for Mark, it’s much more “to the point” …”straightforward.”  For some it might feel rushed.  For Mark’s nativity moment he begins with a bold statement.  A title for his writing.  A declaration really.  Verse 1, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God.” Full stop.  The beginning, the starting point, the foundation, the origin.  Everything that follows then must necessarily fit within this declaration.  The events and experiences, the lessons and miracles, even the grief, deceit, death, and denial that are about to take place are, in fact, within the framework of good news.  Specifically the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

I dwell on this because we’re going to be in Mark all year long, and this is a significant theme for his writing.   And to that point it becomes a significant theme for us today.  

Mark’s gospel is a short 16 chapter proclamation of prophecy fulfilled.  He roots his Jesus narrative in the prophets of old, and points us to Jesus, the fulfillment of those prophecies.  In Jesus we find our hope, our salvation, our future.  

After 16 short chapters, Mark’s gospel will end rather abruptly with Mary and others visiting the tomb early in the morning, only to be told by a young man in white that Jesus is not there.  He is risen.  Go and tell others that Jesus will be ahead of you to meet you.  And with that they Go and the story ends.  

That is the “to be continued…” of Mark’s gospel account.  “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, son of God…” and “He is risen, go and tell.”

For Mark, Jesus’ arrival, life, death and resurrection, is the beginning of the good news. The good news of God in Jesus does not find its culmination in the resurrection dawn, Rather the resurrection serves as a beginning, a foundation, a starting point, an origin for a new way of life in Jesus Christ.  

The beginning of the good news that is longer narrative of God’s salvation.  

That is the significance of today’s text.  It is only the beginning.  From now, to Easter, and beyond it is only the beginning of the good news….and Advent, this precious blue season of anticipation and waiting reminds us that we live and participate in the kingdom of God within God’s time.  

God’s reign of salvation, the new and heaven earth find their beginning in Jesus Christ, and we are gifted the opportunity to be a part of that something new, part of the fulfilment..

...

Isaiah 40, our Old Testament lesson for today, is the start of second Isaiah.  In this new section of Isaiah, the prophet looks for God’s intervention to restore Israel from Babylonian Exile.  The prophet calls for courage and confidence that God reigns.  

“See the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him; and his recompense before him.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.”

In a time of great uncertainty, persecution, and exile, Isaiah prophesies the promised reign of God.  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

Isaiah prophesies about a voice crying out of the wilderness. “Prepare the way of the Lord...for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…”

As much as Isaiah spoke to a people in great need of hope, a people tired of persecution and feeling lost, a people desperate for a savior, Mark speaks a similar message in a similar setting.

For Mark’s community in that day there is war and rebellion.  Some radical Jews found their breaking point and revolted against Rome.  Jerusalem was under siege and falling.  People were divided. Neighbor against neighbor, friend and friend.  They were lost. They were desperate for a savior, and he had not yet returned.   They were a people in need of hope.   

Enter John the Baptist.  I should note that I often like to refer to him as JTB.

But since moving to Jacksonville, JTB has taken on a new meaning for me.   

So, in all likelihood if I refer to JTB, I mean the burly, camel-haired, locus-eating, leather-belt, baptizing, proclaiming person who emerges from the wilderness...not State Road 202.  

In seminary we call that knowing your context.    

For John the practice of confession and forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation was central to preparing the way for the Lord.  In their world of broken relationships, rebellion, siege, uncertainty, and hopelessness John preaches that hope is rooted in confession and forgiveness.  

And ultimately, he points to the one in whom all hope is found, all reconciliation is possible, Jesus the Messiah.  Prepare the way of the Lord, for he is coming, and it will be the start of something new.

I think there are parallels throughout our texts today, they resonate perhaps too close to home for us.    Isaiah prophesies to the people of God who feel lost, tormented, and exiled in the world.  They are hungry for something or someone to believe in….the promised Messiah.

John proclaims to the wandering crowds in the midst of political chaos, siege and war, rebellion, civil unrest, mass uncertainty.  The crowds find themselves lost, damaged, discarded, or anxious in their world.  They are hungry for something or someone to believe in...the promised Messiah.

Could scripture possibly resonate with us today?  Civil unrest.  Political uncertainty.  Rebellion.  Foreign occupancy.  War abroad and the threat of war at home.  Natural disaster.  Neighbor against neighbor. Tension between world powers. Exploitation? Greed?

After all, one needs not look too far to find an awful lot of darkness in the world.  A world of people who daily experience loss, uncertainty, exile, anxiety, voicelessness, persecution, oppression.  Could it be that some 2000 years later we too are hungry for the message of hope?

Often the temptation is to think of waiting as only for the Lord’s return.  And the frustrating part is that everyday that passes by is another day waiting on the Lord.  Another day spent preparing for his arrival.  

...Here’s the good news.  And honestly, it might sound a bit frustrating, but it is good news none-the-less.  And good thing we have the freedom in Christ to wrestle with it.  

Friends, we live in the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. In God’s time, we participate in, live in, experience and witness to the beginning of the good news.    

2nd Peter pierces through the parallels, “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.  The Lord is not slow about the Lord’s promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”  

Peter writes to say that we are in God’s time, not our own.  Worry not that God will return, but rather worry about leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God...we wait for new heavens and a new earth, That IS the culmination.  That is where righteousness is at home.

In the meantime we participate in the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God.  Every day in the promise of the Lord is a new beginning.  Every new day we are gifted with the opportunity to witness to hope in Christ, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

And perhaps the long delay in Christ’s return is really God’s gracious way of demonstrating patience; saying to us, wait in penitence and hope.  Strive to be found by the Lord in peace, without spot or blemish, and regard patience of our Lord as salvation.

Our call this day and every new day is to be people of God, people washed in the water, people who witness to hope.  People who exude hope in the promise of God.  To shine a light in the darkness of the world.  To give voice to the voiceless.  To act for justice and peace, and defend and advocate for the oppressed.  

Sometimes waiting even looks like confession and repentance for the forgiveness of sin.  Hope empowers confession and forgiveness.  Repentance reveals hope.

So Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, For in God’s time, this is only the beginning.

© Pastor Daniel Locke Dec. 10, 2017, St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.

“Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.”  This prayer is our Advent refrain each week as we invoke the Holy Spirit to “stir up” within us through the prayer of the day.  These ”stir up” prayers in Advent have always been my favorite, and every year I discover a new reason to fall in love with them all over again.

In a literal sense, I love the image of the Holy Spirit stirring things up.  My mind is filled with images of the Spirit swirling, much like a desert windstorm or a tidal pool with the waves crashing together.  During the holidays I am even reminded of the Spirit’s “stirring” when I fold flour or eggs into a good batter, or marshmallows in a cup of hot chocolate.

One of my favorite “stir up” prayers is on the third Sunday of Advent. On December 17, we’ll pray, “Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light…” The power of the Spirit stirring up God’s people is empowering and exciting.  However, it is also downright terrifying.

There is a stereotype that Lutherans don’t like change. We’re often comfortable with our traditions and having “always done it that way.”  Whether that generalization is true or not is the topic of another time, but perhaps the same generalization could be made within our own lives.  How complacent can we become in our relationship with God?  How settled can we become in our faith?  How content can we become in our practices, traditions, rituals, and beliefs?  Are we truly ready or willing to be stirred up?

Willingly and knowingly invoking the Spirit to stir us up is a scary invitation.  After all, the Spirit has strong track recorded of stirring things up pretty well.  Off the top of my head I can think of a large ark, thousands of Israelites crossing the Red Sea, a whale’s belly, a wise judge, and of course a young woman named Mary.  The Spirit is always stirring and filling, empowering and challenging. 

One of the many joys of the Advent season is the invitation to begin again. To begin a new liturgical year.  To enter a new calendar year with excitement, goals, hopes, dreams, and ambitions.  To begin the story of Jesus, from birth and life to death and resurrection.  To be stirred up.  Advent invites us to have the settled, dusty, and stagnant parts of our lives stirred up by the Holy Spirit.

This year I am reminded of God’s promise in the Spirit to keep stirring.  I often want to condition my Advent prayer with “only if you want to” or “if you think I need it.”   But the question isn’t if the Spirit will stir, but when and how.  This Advent I am reminded that our prayer is not request or invitation as much as it is a proclamation of faith. 

From the beginning, God stirred up creation.  God stirred up love when Jesus, Emmanuel and Messiah, walked among God’s people in humble service— turning the world upside down in the death and resurrection.  And by God’s grace, God continues to stir things up for us in the most beautiful, challenging, and faithful ways.  How is the Spirit working in your life this Advent?  In what areas of your faith life might you find the Spirit stirring?

Originally Posted in the December, 2017 Messenger for St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida.