Luke 15:21-24 - Who is the prodigal?

Luke 15:21-24(NRSV)

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.

It all sounds like such a happy ending, doesn't it?

What good fortune for this younger son.

It's commendable that the boy found his voice and did in the end beg his father's forgiveness.

That in humility he was willing to take a lesser role in the household. So maybe he has his happy ending after all.

But again look at the father. 

At the lavishness of the celebration.

Remember that prodigal is wasteful and recklessly spendthrift. Maybe in the end, this story shouldn't be called the prodigal son as much as the prodigal father.

The lavish, wasteful, lavish father.

And that could be the end of the story.

But it isn't.

Lord I cannot even wrap my mind around your extravagant love! All I can do is be so grateful and hope that that lavish love grows in my heart. Amen

Luke 15:20 - Foolish

Luke 15:20 (NRSV)

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.

So the son practiced what he was going to say to his father...

And he didn't even get a chance to get a word in. In a moment, even before he arrived.

Even before he uttered a word of apology.

Even before he said anything.

He was forgiven.

Just.

Like.

That.

It's a pattern, have you noticed, with the father?

To do something generous.

Just.

Like.

That.

To forgive. To love. 

Just.

Like.

That.

Even before the guilty party gets a word in. 

Even before forgiveness can be begged for.

THIS is the story Jesus told. 

Forgiveness given before it is asked for.

And given under the most foolish of circumstances.

Because that's certainly what the neighbors would have thought:

"What a ridiculous old man. Shaming himself and his property. Running, of all things, after that wastrel who deserted him and made a fool out of him."

That's what the neighbors would have said.

Because a father in that position certainly doesn't give away his property to a spendthrift. 

And then forgive everything and go running after the boy!

What kind of fool does that?

What kind of foolish love is that?

God of fools, you have caught me even before I could beg anything of you. What kind of love is that? Show me how I can be just as foolish! Amen

Luke 15:13-19: Coming to ourselves

Luke 15:13-19 (NRSV)

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.”’ 

But when he came to himself....

Has that ever happened to you? You made a really boneheaded decision or choice. You went down a path you know you never should have even set foot on. 

You trusted the wrong person.

You lied about something.

You ignored something you should have paid attention to.

You lifted something up in an idolatrous way.

You made a cutting remark to hurt someone's feelings.

And then...you came to yourself.

And were filled with regret.

It probably happens more in our lives than we like to admit. We make the wrong choice and then there is that moment where we either decide to continue down that path or where we come to ourselves.

The son realized that he was someone other than the person who had betrayed his father's good will and squandered his inheritance and in that realization a dose of humility brought him back to the path that led him home.

It's hard to admit when we've messed up. It's hard especially to acknowledge when that messing up has hurt someone.

And yet, it is the beginning of something new when that happens. The begin of truth. And life.

Lord help me to realize and acknowledge those broken moments that lead me away from you and your people. Amen.

Luke 15:11-12: So....

Luke 15:11-12 (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.

The actions starts right away in this parable, and we learn a lot about our hero - the father - in the first two verses. And most of what we learn hinges on the word, "so."

The younger son asks for his share of the property, and "so" the father divides his property between his sons.

Just.

Like.

That.

Not what we'd expect. You'd expect perhaps something more like "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me," and his father asked him why he wanted it already.

Or his father said "Let me think about it."

Or most likely: his father said, "Not yours yet, bub. Gotta wait til the will is read."

Instead, as if it was as natural as breathing, the young man asks for his inheritance - way before it is time - and "so" his father simply does what he asks.

And not only does what he asks, but divides his property up then and there. Gives the younger son his share, and gives the older son a share as well.

And probably not his full share. As the older son, he could expect to inherit all of the property at his father's death.

Instead, he receives a "share" now.

It's important to know how disrespectful the younger sons request is. He is basically asking his father to act as if he is already dead. He's basically saying he can't wait for his father to die.

And so, his father gives him what he wants.

What kind of father does that?

What kind of God does that?

God of bounty, you give to me every day more than I need and more than I deserve and I keep coming back with open hands asking for more. Instill in me a heart that is overwhelmed with gratitude for your grand generosity. Amen.

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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Kingdom of Generosity

Matthew 20:1-16 (NRSV)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

How you read this text certainly depends on where you are in your life, doesn't it?

Or what you have in your life.

Who is it you identify with in the text?

The first laborers? Certainly I know many hard workers who I admit I believe deserve to be well compensated for what they do. Maybe you are one of them.

Or the laborers who come at the last hour and are amazed at the bounty that is given - more than expected.

Or maybe the vineyard owner who shares what he has lavishly.

Perhaps at different times you've identified with all three.

Whomever it is, nevertheless, it is true that this isn't generally how the world we know plays out. We are told to work hard for what you get, and that people should get their fair share or what they deserve.

But in God's kingdom, no one gets what they deserve.

Instead we get more.

Instead we get all.

Each one of us. 

No matter how hard we work. No matter how much we go to church or don't. No matter how much we pray or read the Bible...

Our vineyard owner's generosity overflows.

Lord of lavish love, teach me to be generous with my love. Amen

Great Value

Matthew 13:44-46 (NRSV)

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

What is the most valuable thing you own?

For many, it would be their home or a car. Or maybe a piece of jewelry. Those things that we insure and save for or pay off debts for.

But what is really the most valuable thing you have?

The thing that isn't measured by price or cost or numbers of any sort.

The thing that you would save in a house fire before anything else.

The thing that you return to time and again and relish being in your possession.

What does it mean to you that our relationship with God exceeds even that?

That God's value of us is unquantifiable?

That the abundant life that God offers is worth more than anything we can imagine?

That everything else we own pales in comparison?

Can you imagine it?

God, open my eyes to see the treasure you have set before me. Amen