EACH OF US CAN RELATE TO THE STORY OF “THE PRODIGAL SON”
IN OUR OWN UNIQUE WAY Luke 15:1-2; 11-24
Rev. Paul Wrightman 4/3/22
MANY SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS AND THEOLOGIANS
CONSIDER LUKE CHAPTER 15
TO BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTER
IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE.
WHY?
BECAUSE IN IT JESUS DEFINITIVELY MAKES THE POINT
THAT GOD IS A LOVING FATHER
FROM WHOM WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO FEAR.
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WE LOOKED AT THE TWO SHORT PARABLES
AT THE BEGINNING OF LUKE 15,
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
AND THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN,
IN WHICH JESUS UNEQUIVOCALLY TEACHES
THAT GOD WILL NOT GIVE UP SEARCHING FOR ONE WHO IS LOST
UNTIL THAT PERSON IS FOUND AND BROUGHT BACK HOME.
TODAY WE BEGIN AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT WHAT IS KNOWN AS
THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON,
WHICH COMPLETES THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER OF LUKE.
WE DO THIS TO BEGIN TO PREPARE OURSELVES
FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER.
AND WHAT COULD BE BETTER PREPARATION
THAN TO TAKE A SUBSTANTIVE LOOK
AT WHAT MANY CONSIDER TO BE THE GREATEST STORY
THAT ANY RELIGIOUS FIGURE HAS EVER TOLD?
TODAY WE WILL LOOK AT THE YOUNGER BROTHER.
NEXT WEEK WE'LL FOCUS ON THE ELDER BROTHER AND THE FATHER.
IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE "PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON"
IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE MIS-NAMED
BECAUSE THIS PARABLE IS JUST AS MUCH
ABOUT THE SELD-RIGHTEOUS OLDER SON
AND THE LOVING FATHER
AS IT IS ABOUT THE PRODIGAL YOUNGER SON.
IN FACT, GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THIS PARABLE, VERSES 1 & 2…
NOW 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.
…GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THIS PARABLE,
NAMELY, THE JUDGMENTALISM OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES,
A STRONG CASE CAN BE MADE THAT THIS PARABLE IS EVEN MORE
ABOUT THE SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE ELDER SON
THAT IT IS ABOUT THE PRODIGALITY OF THE YOUNGER.
JESUS IS BOLDLY MAKING THE POINT IN THIS STORY
THAT GOD LOVES ALL PEOPLE,
AND THAT ALL ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND EQUALLY LOVED.
A LARGE FAMILY WITH 11 CHILDREN
ACCIDENTALLY LEFT ONE OF THEM BEHIND IN A MOTEL IN DENVER.
THEY TRAVELED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES
BEFORE THEY DISCOVERED THAT ONE WAS MISSING.
THEY DIDN'T JUST CONTINUE ON, SAYING,
"OH WELL, WE STILL HAVE 10 KIDS LEFT: WHAT'S ONE CHILD?"
THEY DROVE BACK, AND OUT NEAR THE KANSAS BORDER
THEY MET THE STATE POLICE,
WHO HAD BROUGHT THE CHILD THAT FAR.
JESUS IS TEACHING US THAT GOD IS LIKE THOSE PARENTS.
GOD'S LOVE INCLUDES ALL --
THE RICH AND THE POOR, THE REPUTABLE AND THE OUTCASTS,
THOSE SOCIETY ACCEPTS AND THOSE IT REJECTS.
THIS PARABLE IS SO FAMILIAR THAT MANY OF US ARE UNABLE
TO HEAR ITS MESSAGE AS IF FOR THE FIRST TIME.
MANY OF US ARE EVEN FAMILIAR
WITH SOME OF THE MORE RECENT SCHOLARSHIP
CONCERNING THIS PARABLE,
WHICH POINTS OUT THAT
THE YOUNGER SON'S ASKING FOR HIS SHARE OF THE INHERITANCE
AS HE DID WAS THE GREATEST POSSIBLE INSULT
THAT HE COULD GIVE TO HIS FATHER,
BASICALLY TELLING HIM THAT HE WISHED HE WAS DEAD ALREADY.
THIS ACTION ON THE PART OF THE YOUNGER SON
WOULD HAVE BEEN PUNISHABLE BY DEATH
IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE FATHER NOT ONLY IGNORES THE LAW
CONDEMNING HIS SON,
BUT IS OBVIOUSLY ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN.
AND WHEN HE SEES A FORLORN FIGURE IN THE FAR DISTANCE
WHICH HE RECOGNIZES AS HIS SON,
HE IMMEDIATELY DROPS THE SOLEMN DIGNITY
THAT IS HIS AS HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD,
AND RUSHES OUT, ROBES FLAPPING,
RUNNING TO MEET AND EMBRACE THE SON FINALLY COME HOME.
THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEMPT
SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT AND APPROACH OUR PARABLE
IN TERMS OF A SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER.
IN SEVERAL PLACES I BE SPEAKING
LARGELY IN FIRST-PERSON LANGUAGE,
USING THE WORDS "I" AND "MY."
THESE SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS ARE NOT LIMITED TO ME, HOWEVER.
THEY APPLY TO EVERYONE.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALLOW MY FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE
TO BECOME YOUR FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE.
SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, FORSAKING HOME
IS MUCH MORE THAN AN EVENT CONCERNING TIME AND PLACE.
FORSAKING HOME IS A DENIAL OF THE SPIRITUAL REALITY
THAT I BELONG TO GOD WITH EVERY PART OF MY BEING,
THAT GOD HOLDS ME SAFE IN AN ETERNAL EMBRACE.
FORSAKING HOME IS LIVING AS THOUGH
I DO NOT YET HAVE A HOME
AND MUST LOOK FAR AND WIDE TO FIND ONE.
FAITH IS THE RADICAL TRUST
THAT HOME HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND ALWAYS WILL BE THERE.
ANGER, RESENTMENT, JEALOUSY, DESIRE FOR REVENGE,
GREED, ANTAGONISMS AND RIVALRIES ARE THE OBVIOUS SIGNS
THAT I HAVE LEFT HOME, SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.
I AM THE PRODIGAL SON
EVERY TIME I SEARCH FOR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
WHERE IT CANNOT BE FOUND.
THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH "IFS."
THE WORLD SAYS:
"YES, I WILL LOVE YOU IF YOU ARE GOOD-LOOKING,
INTELLIGENT, AND WEALTHY."
"I WILL LOVE YOU IF YOU HAVE A GOOD EDUCATION,
A GOOD JOB, AND GOOD CONNECTIONS."
"I WILL LOVE YOU IF YOU PRODUCE MUCH,
SELL MUCH, AND BUY MUCH."
THERE ARE ENDLESS "IFS" IN THE WORLD'S LOVE.
THE WORLD'S LOVE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE CONDITIONAL.
AS LONG AS I KEEP LOOKING FOR MY TRUE SELF
IN THE WORLD OF CONDITIONAL LOVE,
I WILL REMAIN "HOOKED" TO THE VALUES OF THE WORLD --
TRYING, FAILING, AND TRYING AGAIN.
I AM THE PRODIGAL SON EVERY TIME I SEARCH
FOR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WHERE IT CANNOT BE FOUND.
IT'S ALMOST AS IF I WANT TO PROVE TO MYSELF AND TO THE WORLD
THAT I DO NOT NEED GOD'S LOVE,
THAT I CAN MAKE A LIFE ON MY OWN,
THAT I WANT TO BE FULLY AUTONOMOUS, INDEPENDENT.
BENEATH IT ALL IS THE GREAT REBELLION,
MY RADICAL "NO" TO THE FATHER'S LOVE,
THE UNSPOKEN CURSE: "I WISH YOU WERE DEAD,"
OR AT LEAST, "I WANT YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE."
(PAUSE)
JESUS TEACHES US IN THIS STORY
THAT THE FATHER'S HANDS HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN STRETCHED OUT IN WELCOME AND ACCEPTANCE.
GOD HAS NEVER PULLED BACK GOD'S ARMS, SO TO SPEAK,
NEVER WITHHELD BLESSING.
ONE DAY C. H. SPURGEON WAS WALKING THROUGH
THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE WITH A FRIEND.
AS THEY STROLLED ALONG, THE EVANGELIST NOTICED A BARN
WITH A WEATHER VANE ON ITS ROOF.
AT THE TOP OF THE VANE WERE THESE WORDS: "GOD IS LOVE."
SPURGEON REMARKED TO HIS COMPANION
THAT HE THOUGHT THIS WAS A RATHER INAPPROPRIATE PLACE
FOR SUCH A MESSAGE.
"WEATHER VANES ARE CHANGEABLE," HE SAID,
"BUT GOD'S LOVE IS CONSTANT."
"I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THOSE WORDS, CHARLES,"
REPLIED HIS FRIEND.
"YOU MISUNDERSTOOD THE MEANING.
THAT SIGN IS INDICATING A TRUTH:
REGARDLESS OF WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS,
GOD IS LOVE."
(PAUSE)
GOD'S LOVE IS AN ETERNAL LOVE,
A LOVE THAT REACHES OUT TO ALL HUMANITY.
IT IS A LOVE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE BROKENNESS OF PERSONS
FROM ALL TIMES AND PLACES,
THAT KNOWS WITH IMMENSE COMPASSION
THE SUFFERING OF THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO FORSAKE HOME.
THE HEART OF THE FATHER BURNS WITH AN IMMENSE DESIRE
TO BRING HIS CHILDREN HOME, ALL HIS CHILDREN.
HOW MUCH GOD WOULD HAVE LIKED TO TALK TO THEM,
TO WARN THEM AGAINST THE MANY DANGERS THEY WERE FACING,
AND TO CONVINCE THEM THAT AT HOME
CAN BE FOUND EVERYTHING
THAT THEY SEARCH FOR ELSEWHERE.
HOW MUCH GOD WOULD HAVE LIKED TO PULL THEM BACK
WITH HIS FATHERLY AUTHORITY AND HOLD THEM CLOSE.
BUT GOD'S LOVE IS TOO GREAT TO INDULGE
IN THIS KIND OF MANUPULATIVE BEHAVIOR.
GOD SIMPLY WILL NOT FORCE, CONSTRAIN, PUSH, OR PULL.
GOD OFFERS THE FREEDOM TO REJECT GOD'S LOVE
OR TO LOVE IN RETURN.
IT IS PRECISELY THE IMMENSITY OF GOD'S LOVE
THAT IS THE SOURCE OF GOD'S SUFFERING.
GOD, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, HAS CHOSEN TO BE,
FIRST AND FOREMOST --
FOR LACK OF A MORE INCLUSIVE TERM
THAT WOULD STILL BE DEEPLY PERSONAL --
GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BE FIRST AND FOREMOST A LOVING FATHER.
AS LOVING FATHER, GOD WANTS HIS CHILDREN TO BE FREE,
FREE TO LOVE.
THAT FREEDOM INCLUDES THE POSSIBILITY
OF THE CHILDREN LEAVING HOME,
GOING TO A "DISTANT COUNTRY," AND LOSING EVERYTHING.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SON IN THAT DISTANT COUNTRY?
ASIDE FROM ALL THE MATERIAL AND PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES,
WHAT WERE THE INNER CONSEQUENCES
OF THE SON'S LEAVING HOME?
THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IS QUITE PREDICTABLE.
THE FARTHER I RUN AWAY FROM THE PLACE WHERE GOD DWELLS,
THE LESS I AM ABLE TO HEAR THE VOICE
THAT TELLS ME THAT I AM LOVED,
AND THE LESS I HEAR THAT VOICE,
THE MORE ENTANGLED I BECOME IN THE MANIPULATIONS
AND POWER GAMES OF THE WORLD.
WHEN THE YOUNGER SON GETS TO THE POINT
OF WANTING TO FILL HIMSELF WITH THE HUSKS
THAT HE WAS FEEDING THE PIGS,
HE FINALLY COMES TO HIS SENSES.
HE FINALLY REALIZES THAT HE IS TRULY LOST,
AND IT IS THIS COMPLETE LOSTNESS
THAT BRINGS HIM TO HIS SENSES.
ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SEES CLEARLY THE PATH HE HAS CHOSEN
AND WHERE IT WILL LEAD.
HE SEES HIS CHOICE OF DEATH OVER LIFE,
AND HE KNOWS THAT ONE MORE STEP
IN THE DIRECTION HE IS GOING
WILL TAKE HIM TO SELF-DESTRUCTION.
IN THAT CRITICAL MOMENT, WHAT IS IT
THAT PUSHES HIM TO OPT FOR LIFE?
IT IS THE REDISCOVERY OF HIS DEEPEST SELF --
THE FACT THAT HE STILL REMAINS HIS FATHER'S CHILD.
(PAUSE)
TONY CAMPOLO SAYS THAT WHEN HE WAS A BOY
GROWING UP IN A CONGESTED AND BUSTLING CITY,
HIS MOTHER ARRANGED FOR A TEENAGE GIRL WHO LIVED NEARBY
TO WALK HOME WITH HIM AT THE END OF THE DAY.
FOR THIS, SHE WAS PAID A NICKEL A DAY.
BUT TONY REBELLED IN THE SECOND GRADE AND TOLD HIS MOTHER,
"I'LL WALK MYSELF TO SCHOOL,
AND, IF YOU GIVE ME A NICKEL A WEEK,
I WILL BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
YOU CAN KEEP THE OTHER TWENTY CENTS
AND WE'LL ALL BE BETTER OFF."
AFTER A PERIOD OF PLEADING AND BEGGING,
LITTLE TONY FINALLY GOT HIS WAY.
FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS HE WALKED HIMSELF
BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL.
IT WAS AN EIGHT-BLOCK WALK WITH MANY STREETS TO CROSS,
BUT HE WAS CAREFUL AND DIDN'T TALK TO STRANGERS
OR GET DISTRACTED ALONG THE WAY.
YEARS LATER AT A FAMILY PARTY,
TONY BRAGGED ABOUT HIS INDEPENDENCE
AND REMINDED HIS FAMILY OF HOW
HE HAD TAKEN CARE OF HIMSELF AS A BOY.
HIS MOTHER LAUGHED AND ADDED THE REST OF THE STORY.
"DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU WERE ALONE?" SHE SAID.
"EVERY MORNING WHEN YOU LEFT FOR SCHOOL, I LEFT WITH YOU.
I WALKED BEHIND YOU ALL THE WAY.
WHEN YOU GOT OUT OF SCHOOL AT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON,
I WAS THERE.
I ALWAYS KEPT MYSELF HIDDEN,
BUT I WAS THERE AND I FOLLOWED YOU ALL THE WAY HOME.
I JUST WANTED TO BE THERE FOR YOU IN CASE YOU NEEDED ME."
(Tony Campolo, What My Parents Did Right)
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY? GOD IS LIKE THIS MOTHER!
(PAUSE)
THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN IS FULL OF AMBIGUITIES.
WHAT TO DO ON THE WAY BACK HOME TO THE FATHER?
WHY -- I'LL PREPARE A SPEECH!
AND WHY DO I HAVE TO PREPARE A SPEECH, A FORMAL APOLOGY?
THE REASON IS CLEAR.
ALTHOUGH RECLAIMING MY IDENTITY AS A CHILD OF GOD,
I STILL LIVE AND THINK AS THOUGH THE GOD
TO WHOM I AM RETURNING DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION.
I STILL THINK OF GOD'S LOVE AS CONDITIONAL,
AND ABOUT GOD'S HOME AS I PLACE I AM NOT FULLY SURE OF.
WHILE WALKING HOME, I KEEP ENTERTAINING DOUBTS
ABOUT WHETHER I WILL BE TRULY WELCOME WHEN I GET THERE.
STILL CLINGING TO MY SENSE OF WORTHLESSNESS,
I PROJECT FOR MYSELF A PLACE FAR BELOW
THAT WHICH BELONGS TO A SON OR DAUGHTER.
BELIEF IN TOTAL, ABSOLUTE, LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
DOES NOT COME READILY.
THERE IS REPENTANCE, OR TURNING BACK,
BUT NOT A TURNING BACK IN THE LIGHT OF
THE IMMENSE LOVE OF AN UNCONDITIONALLY FORGIVING GOD.
IT IS A SELF-SERVING REPENTANCE
THAT HOPES FOR NO MORE THAN SURVIVAL.
GOD REMAINS A HARSH, JUDGMENTAL GOD.
IT IS THIS GOD WHO MAKES ME FEEL GUILTY AND WORRIED
AND CALLS UP IN ME ALL THOSE SELF-SERVING APOLOGIES.
SUBMISSION TO THIS GOD DOES NOT CREATE TRUE INNER FREEDOM,
BUT BREEDS ONLY BITTERNESS AND RESENTMENT.
ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
IS TO RECEIVE, TO ACCEPT, GOD'S FORGIVENESS AND LOVE.
THERE IS SOMETHING IN US HUMANS
THAT KEEPS US CLINGING TO OUR BROKENNESS
AND PREVENTS US FROM LETTING GOD HEAL OUR PAST
AND OFFER US A NEW BEGINNING.
SOMETIMES IT EVEN SEEMS AS THOUGH
I WANT TO PROVE TO GOD
THAT MY DARKNESS IS TOO GREAT TO OVERCOME.
WHILE GOD WANTS TO RESTORE ME
TO THE FULL DIGNITY OF BEING A SON,
I KEEP INSISTING THAT I WILL SETTLE
FOR BEING A HIRED SERVANT.
SO I MUST ASK MYSELF THE QUESTIONS:
DO I REALLY WANT TO BE SO TOTALLY HEALED
THAT A NEW WAY OF LIVING BECOMES POSSIBLE?
DO I TRUST MYSELF WITH SUCH A RADICAL RECLAMATION?
DO I REALLY WANT TO BREAK AWAY
FROM MY DEEP-ROOTED REBELLION AGAINST GOD
AND GIVE MYSELF SO ABSOLUTELY TO GOD'S LOVE
THAT A NEW PERSON CAN EMERGE?
RECEIVING GOD'S FORGIVENESS AND ACCEPTANCE
REQUIRES A WILLINGNESS TO LET GOD BE GOD,
AND TO LET GOD DO THE HEALING, RESTORING, AND RENEWING.
IN THE MOVIE THE HORSE WHISPERER, TOM BOOKER,
PLAYED BY ROBERT REDFORD, EMPLOYS HIS SPECIAL GIFT
OF "GENTLING" HORSES.
A TENSE NEW YORK MAGAZINE EDITOR (PLAYED BY JANE FONDA)
CAN’T BELIEVE HER EYES
AS SHE WITNESSES THE GRADUAL TRANSFORMATION
OF HER DAUGHTER'S HORSE FROM TRAUMATIZED TO TAMED.
IN ONE TELLING SCENE, THE HORSE,
FRIGHTENED BY THE EDITOR'S RINGING CELL PHONE,
GALLOPS OFF INTO THE FAR END OF A LARGE PASTURE.
THE HORSE WHISPERER WALKS INTO THE PASTURE AND SITS DOWN,
WHERE HE WAITS FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE HOURS.
THE HORSE, DRAWN BY ITS CURIOSITY, INCHES CLOSER AND CLOSER.
FINALLY, IT CAUTIOUSLY APPROACHES CLOSE ENOUGH
TO TOUCH THE WHISPERER,
AND ALLOWS ITSELF TO BE LED BACK TO THE SAFETY OF ITS STALL.
THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WITH GOD,
AS GOD "GENTLES" THE UNTAMED OR TRAUMATIZED PEOPLE
WHO TRY TO RUN.
THAT'S THE WAY IT IS BETWEEN GOD AND US.
AMEN.