Lent 4

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So Jesus told them this parable:

"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.'"

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I absolutely love this parable. I can see a little piece of myself in each of the characters in the story, not that I’m terribly excited to admit it, but it helps to understand why each character is essential and telling of who we are as humans and who our amazing God is.

The parable describes in detail the actions of the younger son who asks for his inheritance before his father’s death, overstepping his position in the family and expecting his father’s generosity to ring true. Not only does the son squander all of his wealth, but he would rather live a life poorer than a pig than return to his home! Sometimes it takes hitting rock-bottom to create change in one’s lifestyle. A family member celebrated 12 years of sobriety this week and could not have made the turn-around in his life without God’s help or the Alcoholics Anonymous program. We have to recognize that through our troubles we are never alone. God is with us, having faith in our abilities, and when we fall, He is always there.

I can also see characteristics of the older son in myself and those around me. He was extremely angered by his father’s compassion, forgiveness and excitement at the return of the younger son. He experienced jealousy and frustration that his hard work all those years had gone seemingly unnoticed. Don’t we all feel that sometimes? We aren’t recognized for a great project at work, or feel unappreciated by friends or family. It’s a hard thing to move past jealousy to a place where we can find acceptance and be at peace. We learn from this parable that it does not have to be about success or failure in life, but how we react to those successes and failures. We must be able to rejoice and be grateful for all that God gives us and know that His love is unending.

Forgiveness is an extremely hard thing to give, but the Father gives it to even the most undeserving of us all. Not only does he rejoice in his younger son’s return, but he even kills the fattened calf in celebration! No wonder the older son was upset! As hard as it is for us to forgive, it must be equally, if not more challenging for God to grant forgiveness to all those who betray Him or ignore Him on a regular basis. We can find comfort in that undeserved love, that no matter what we do, we have God to see us through and forgive us if we ask for it. Thank the Lord!