Main
  Who We Are
  Anglican Identity
  Upcoming Events
  Links

Our Worship
  Divine Office
  Services
  WOW
  Homilies

Our Ministries
  Prayer List
  Lay Ministry Rota
  The Servant

San Esteban
  San Esteban

Search:

The Fourth Sunday of Lent, 21 March 2004
Joshua 5:9-12, II Corinthians 5:17-21, Luke 15:11-32
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT

The Rev. W. Lee Shaw

This is one of my favorite parables, “The Prodigal Son,” or as I see it, “The Loving Father.” The storyline, the richness of the language, the texture of details are a delight to read. Perhaps, however, as well worn and rounded stones, it may have become too familiar, too comfortable.

There are many levels of meaning and interpretation in this story, so let us just look at a few of them. For this younger son to ask for his share of the inheritance was a harsh thing to do. He is basically saying to his father, I don't value you and I want what is mine when you die, right now. The father generously divides the property between his two boys. The older stayed to work and the younger left to a “distant country.”

There he had his share of bad luck and lost everything. He was so poor that he hired himself out to a man who raises pigs. Now for a young Jewish man to become a herder of pigs is as low as he can get. Pigs are completely unclean, ritually impure. He has reached bottom and he knows it. Physically he is starving and bitterly notes that even his father's servants have more to eat than he does. Psychologically he is spent. Spiritually he seems to be barely hanging on. But hanging on enough to see the need to repent, confess his sins to his father and accept his punishment. He returns home, broken and remorseful, ready for his punishment.

The father sees him in the distance and goes to him. Now status in this culture would demand that the father wait and have the son come to him. But this father is “filled with compassion” and goes to his wayward son, embraces him, kisses him. The father's love moves him to do the unexpected as he rushes out to greet his son.

The son apologizes and begins his confession but he cannot even finish it. The father is already organizing a party, a celebration. Forgiveness has been given before the confession is complete and the celebration has begun. Such is the love of the father for this son who was lost and is now found.

He is given new clothes, a costly ring. The calf that has been especially cared for in anticipation of a great feast is killed for the party. These are extravagant gestures. Totally uncalled for. Totally out of character with societal expectations.

And the older brother notices all of this. He is the one who has stayed and “slaved” for his father as the good, obedient son. He is hurt. He is angry. Everything about him in the story points to his sense of betrayal and jealousy.

So now the father goes to him. He goes to the older son to console and welcome into the party. The father is the one initiating all of the acts of reconciliation, forgiveness. But the son will have nothing of it. You can just hear the hurt and sarcasm dripping from his voice as he says, “This son of yours.” He sees no relationship with his brother. He is alienated from father and brother. He complains that he did not even get a skinny goat in order to party with his friends. Interestingly, he has no sense of having such a party with his father.

The father reminds him that he already has everything. Remember he divided his property between both sons. The elder brother will have total control of the property. The younger brother after the party will still have nothing and I wonder what will become of him given his brother's anger.

But the father persists in his appeal. His love for both sons is so overwhelming for him. He tells him that with the younger son's return, “We had to celebrate.” It was not we could or should. We had to celebrate his return and new life in the family.

I find the message of this parable particularly painful given what is happening in some parts of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion since General Convention and Bishop Gene Robinson. As the loving father in the parable, God's love is there for us and we are welcomed into the celebration. It is our choice whether to come in or to stay outside.

This parable is the last part of three stories about the lost being found: the lost sheep and the shepherd and the woman who loses one of her ten coins. The stories are told because the religious leaders of the day were criticizing Jesus and complaining that, “This person welcomes sinners and eats with them.” He was keeping table fellowship and socializing with those on the margins, the sinners, the unclean.

As the father in the parable, so our God comes to us in the person of Jesus, to embrace us, kiss us, and welcome us. Jesus tells us we have to celebrate when the lost is found and the stray one returns, regardless of who they are. In Jesus we are all reconciled to God, our sins are not counted against us. As Desmond Tutu notes, in Jesus God is saying: “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

God is already preparing the banquet for us. It is our call, our choice, whether to come inside or stay out because who else may be inside already. The celebration is being prepared for us. What will we do?