Loving God, you wait for us with love and compassion, hoping that we will turn around and come back to you. Teach us to find joy in the knowledge of your grace and to respond in love to your love for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The parable that Jesus tells in today's gospel is known by many as the story of the Prodigal Son. I would propose that it should be known by a different title: The Parable of the Amazing Father. Perhaps you might understand what I mean if you attempt to put yourself in the father's place for a few moments.

Imagine that you are a parent, and one of your children comes to you and says, "I can't wait until you die to get my inheritance. Please give it to me now." Would you really be likely to say "yeah, okay, here it is"?!? Well, that's pretty much what happens in this parable. So, imagine that you are still the parent, and your child takes the property that you have given and sells it off, and then leaves home with the cash. You don't know where he has gone, and you don't hear from him the whole time that he is away. Then, one day, you see your child in the distance, apparently coming home again. As a parent, how would you respond?

I don't know about you, but a lot of parents that I know would be standing there with arms crossed, an angry look on their face, and getting ready for a full force lecture. "You insult me. You take my property and get rid of it and run off with the cash, and now you expect me to take you in again??" Can't you just hear it? But that's why the father in this story is so amazing. There's no lecture. There is no anger, but only compassion. He doesn't even allow his son to finish his confession, but lavishes gifts on him like an honoured guest. He even throws a party, and invites many other people to come - perhaps even the whole village - in order to celebrate the return of his son. It is indeed a story of amazing grace. This man's son has done nothing that deserves such a lavish celebration. He has simply come home.

To me, the father is the amazing character in this story. The behaviour of the elder son seems understandable. The behaviour of the younger son, while exceedingly disrespectful, also seems quite possible. However, the father acts in a most unusual fashion. First of all, he is exceedingly generous in giving his youngest son an early inheritance. No self-respecting father in those days (or even today, I suspect) would be likely to do this. Secondly, the father runs out to meet his son. In Middle Eastern culture, it is considered very unbecoming and undignified for a grown man to run. Thirdly, the father feels only compassion for his son who has acted in a very hurtful and disrespectful way. And finally, the father celebrates his son's return, not just with a quiet little dinner, but with the best of everything. It is the type of celebration that would be undertaken if a very distinguished and honoured guest had come to visit.

The father is, indeed, an amazing character, who communicates to us the incredible grace of God. It is a story of amazing grace, which is showered on an undeserving child. One of the things which is often overlooked in this story is that both sons are treated with the same love, generosity and compassion. When the younger son requests his inheritance, the inheritance is given to the elder son at the same time (Lk. 15:12). The father is generous to both. As well, the father goes out to meet both sons - the youngest when he arrives home (v.20) and the eldest when he refuses to come in (v.28). The father has the same love and compassion for both of his sons, but they respond in totally different ways.

The question for us today is really how we are going to respond to that same love and compassion that God has for each of us. Really, God has treated us in the same way in which the sons were treated in the parable. God has been generous to each of us in giving us an undeserved inheritance of eternal life. We are also given an inheritance to be used in this life - our bodies, our souls, our talents, our possessions - all that we have and all that we are. God has shown his love and compassion for each one of us through the person of Jesus Christ and his sacrificial life, death and resurrection. And, when we come to seek God, God is always there waiting and comes out to meet us.

Meanwhile, apparently there are parties in heaven. This celebration of the younger son's homecoming was not just a one-time thing. According to the gospels, there is great rejoicing in heaven every time a sinner repents (Lk. 15:7,10). You see, God desires that all of God's children would come home. The question remains, how do we respond, knowing that God is like this?

We could be like the younger son and waste the gifts that God has given us and basically ignore God until it comes to a time when we're in need. We could be like the elder son and work for God as if we're slaves, waiting for God to reward us when really, he already has. We could rejoice in the gifts that we have been given, and rejoice with the angels when others repent and turn towards God. We could respond in love to the love that has first been given to us.

When you really think about it, it is not the fact that his brother has returned that upsets the elder son. He is upset because of the party. If his brother wants to return, that's just fine, but it should be with sackcloth and ashes and tears and self-flagellation, not with music and dancing! (cf. Craddock, p.188) One commentator asks the question as to what would happen if people knew that our church is a church that throws a party whenever the lost are found (Jensen, p. 170). Then he answers his own question, indicating that many church members and community people would be there participating in the party, while others would criticize and stay away.

Perhaps a similar question could be asked regarding our attitudes toward Holy Communion. For years, the emphasis was placed on being very somber and sorrowful and downcast in order to show one's repentance. It is only more recently that we have begun to recover the joy of the Eucharistic feast. When you really think about it, we are receiving a visible sign of God's grace. We are restored, forgiven, loved, saved through Jesus Christ. Shouldn't that be an occasion for celebration? Yet, how many people would be offended if we danced up the aisle to receive Holy Communion?

Once again today, we are called to repentance, and called to come on in and join the party. We are called to marvel and rejoice at the amazing grace of God. We are called to acknowledge the generosity, love and compassion with which we have been treated, and to respond with the same. I'd like to close today by sharing a prayer with you that captures the paradoxical freedom that is to be found when we willingly love and serve God. It is written by George Matheson (For All the Saints, Vol. I, p.879).

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free;

Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conq'ror be.

I sink in life's alarms when by myself I stand,

Imprison me within your arms, and strong shall be my hand.

My heart is weak and poor until it master find:

It has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind;

It cannot freely move till you have wrought its chain;

Enslave it with your matchless love, and deathless it shall reign.

My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve:

It wants the needed fire to glow, it wants the breeze to nerve;

It cannot drive the world until itself be driven;

Its flag can only be unfurled when you shall breathe from heaven.

Amen.

Lent 4(C) Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

March 18, 2007

St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

? 2007 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved