The Prodigal Son

(Luke 15:11-32)

Year C

            Jesus often used parables as he taught his followers.  He told these little vignettes to give insight into the relationships between God, the Creator and us, the created.  One such parable which reveals the attitude of God toward the human condition, is that of the Prodigal Son.  It really might have been appropriately called the “forgiving Father”, because it tells of the unrelenting love of a father for his child.

            A prominent young man from wealth and entitlement had fallen down the darkest well of corruption and degradation – finding himself separated from any sense of community or self worth.  All this happened as a result of his own selfishness and greed and willful nature. 

            It was a slow, insidious descent – nearly unnoticed until he hit the bottom of that well!

Have you ever been in an emotionally desolate and dark place – a place where you woke up one day and realized that you were utterly, utterly lost?  Can you imagine yourself in such a forlorn situation?  Or, one of your children?

            In desperation, this broken young man was given a vision of hope in the form of a thought, a prayer really, “perhaps I could return to my father’s house and become a servant there.”

            It’s typical of us humans to be completely self-centered sometimes.  I’m guessing that each of us has perhaps done what the son did in a variety of ways.  And sometimes  consequences of our choices can be rough, can’t they?  But as we grow and learn from our mistakes, with God’s help, we can rise above them.

            You know, there is great courage in returning – real bravery.  For in returning we often face that primal fear of rejection.  But, perhaps desperation motivates us to do great things and trust much.  After all, what have we to lose, when everything we thought we had is gone?

            The young man spent his entire journey home preparing all the eloquent words he  could think of which might persuade his father to allow him to return to his household.  I imagine he spent hours struggling to choose just the right words.  By the time he was near to his father’s house, he was nearly starved to death, smelled of pig yard filth, sweat and roadway dirt.  What was left of his pride was as tattered and soiled as his clothing.  He was an altogether unsightly and wretched looking creature – can you just see it?  Hardly one to entice kindly embraces!

            After several days journey, the young man finally comes close to home.  Now – in your mind’s eye, imagine this young man standing at the top of the hill gazing down upon his father’s farm – finally he knows he is almost home.  He takes a deep breath of resignation and begins his final steps toward the home of his family.

            For some reason, the father is outside – perhaps it’s near sunset and he’s taking care of some evening chores or instructions to the workers.  For whatever reason, he is outside but he glances up and his eyes rest on the outline of a person in the distance.

            Remember what happened next?  The father recognized his son’s form and stride even before he was close enough to see his face.  He knew that boy as his own dear child coming toward him.  He quickly gathered a cloak and Scripture tell us he “ran to meet him”.  He threw the mantle of forgiveness around his son and with his big father arms embraced him with hearty welcome.

            There was no time for well rehearsed speeches – no words of anguish or admonishment – just tremendous acceptance, forgiveness, joy, celebration and immediate inclusion back into the family – except for that older brother who was incensed with his father’s lack of reproach for his younger son.

            It takes humility born of real life experiences and it takes courage sometimes born of desperation to return to God.  And then again, sometimes we simply have no where else to turn.  And like the Prodigal’s father, the reward for us is always generous, abundant, extravagant love, freely given.  Clearly the message of this story is that forgiveness was never conditional upon the fancy words of the returning son.  True confession and repentance is revealed by our choice to turn away from our sin. The words of confession do not persuade God to forgive us.  God loves us so completely that our forgiveness is waiting for us to return and accept it, reuniting us to God.  God never changed – God did not turn away from us because of our sin.  God’s love for us is not affected by our behavior.  God already knows about all the sins we have committed and God’s reponse to us is always the same – come home, you are forgiven. 

            Notice in the story, that the father seemed unconcerned about where his son had been or what he had done.  His focus was on this son who had returned.  The love of our Abba has no limits.  A man or woman cannot go so far that God’s love and forgiveness are no longer offered.  The father would have accepted the son back at any time.  Listen to this - regardless of what we’ve done in our past, we’ve not stretched God beyond God’s limits.

            We are not told how the older brother finally behaved after his initial temper tantrum.  His very human reaction is from self-centered anger.  He was jealous and bitter about his father’s mercy to an undeserving son.

            But we must not make the mistake of assuming that God’s ways with us are based on such distorted human conceptions of right or wrong.  Jesus wants us to know that God’s higher ways are determined by God’s love and mercy and not ours, thankfully!

            Back to the older son.  Each of us is left to finish writing the older brother’s story within our own lives today.  How will we accept forgiveness?  How will we give it to others?

            Sometimes returning to our spiritual home is painful work, but not returning exacts the terrible price of feeling separated from God.  Like the prodigal, we need to put aside our eloquent words and simply turn again toward the God who adores us.  There are, after all, some feelings too deep for words.  God reads the truth of our hearts full of humility and desire and it is in that sweet communion where we find the peace which passes all of our understanding.

            Being “saved” by God is not a one time thing, I’ve learned.  It’s something which happens for most of us, over and over, each time we discover we have moved far away from the presence of God in our lives.  We return by surrendering our life to God, again and again.

            Remember that old Baptist hymn which was often sung for altar calls:  come home, come home, you who are weary come home….”

Just like the prodigal son, that mantle of forgiveness and inclusion awaits us all.

            Brothers and sisters, if there is unforgiveness in your heart today or sin in your life, I urge you to surrender it to God.  When you come to forward this morning to receive Christ’s communion, leave at the Altar anything which  separates you from God.   Amen.

Deacon Geri Nelson,  03/18/07