The Teachings of Jesus: The Prodigal Son, Introduction

Luke 15:11-32 (NRSV)

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.’”

As I was writing about the Kingdom of God for the past couple of weeks, I was able to use some of my favorite small parables of Jesus. That's always a treat. 

So I've decided to spend a little time looking a bit more in depth at some of my other favorite stories and teachings of Jesus, beginning with the Prodigal Son, which I will spend several days on.

This famous story really could have a better name.  The definition of prodigal (according to Merriam-Webster) is:

1. 1. 

   characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure; lavish
2. 2. 

   recklessly spendthrift

   
   

   
   

So the son is prodigal in his wastefulness - in his being a spendthrift.

But then what about the father? I'm going to argue that this story is really about how he is the prodigal - prodigiously reckless and lavish.

And what does all of this tell us about ourselves and our God?

Lord, help me to revel in the lavishness of your love and be a bearer of that love for the world. Amen.

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