To read: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
New Revised Standard Version Bible,Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable:
Then Jesus said, "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 he divided his property between them. 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.
"When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 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. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 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! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.'
"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. 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.' 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. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in.
"His father came out and began to plead with him. 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. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'
"Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 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.'"
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
The
Prodigal Son. What a great parable! My favorite - filled with all sorts of turns and twists, it's a literary classic, not to mention God's word. From the son who rather cryptically asks why his dad isn't dead yet, to the other son who chooses to remain outside the family (perhaps he's the real "prodigal"), to the story that ends without a resolution, maybe inviting us to write our own ending for our own journeys, it's a story that is full and rich.
But for all the twists and turns in the story, my favorite part is, visually at least, pretty straight forward. It's dad - running to embrace his lost younger son. Maybe there were a few twists on the path, but I picture dad running from the front porch the moment he sees his son, running as straight as an arrow, allowing nothing to come in his way, running to welcome him home.
What a great image for Lent - a "dad" running to welcome his wayward child back home. After watching for the longest time, dad's patience pays off - and his love drives him to go to the child, not merely wait for the child to get to him. Sound familiar? Sound like a God who yearns for the return of wayward children? Maybe - and maybe that's me walking down the path, eyes wide open as once again I am welcomed home by a gracious God who, with great passion and delight, welcomes me home.
And how do I know there is great passion and delight? God is running, of course. That's an extra twist in the parable. As today, wealthy men in the time of Jesus lived with many social norms. Two come into play here - the wealthy wear long robes, and you don't show off your legs! Yet dad runs to greet his son, and if he's going to do that, he's going to hike up his robe and expose his legs.
Such humility, such shame, just like the cross. I know that God is passionate about me, and I know that God delights in my return because God "hikes up the robe and shows off the legs" as Jesus hangs on the cross for me. Like dad in the parable, God is willing to do ANYTHING to get me back, and do it quickly - even endure the shame and humility of the cross. Never mind that I have wasted the gifts I have been given, and never mind that from time to time, like the younger son, I've told God to "get lost." God keeps watch on the front porch, and when God spots me, God takes off, does what has to be done, with little care for appearances, and makes a beeline for me - embracing me, and welcoming me back.
To pray:
Christ, the life of all the living, Christ the death of death, our foe. Christ, yourself for me once giving to the darkest depths of woe: through your suffering, death, and merit, life eternal I inherit. Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus unto you. Amen. (Lutheran Book of Worship, #97)
Northern Great Lakes Synod Secretary
First Lutheran Church, Gladstone, Mich.