The Lost Has Been Found

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.”

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.’”  Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 

Yesterday I had the privilege to be on a panel here in Richmond about Pocahontas. The panel included scholars and Native leaders, all trying to do justice to her story. She has, over 400 years since her death, been central to the American story, yet much we think we know is conjecture, romantic idealism and rewriting of history. She died and was buried in Gravesend, England, attempting to return home. She must have ached for the embrace of her family and friends. She must have wept privately in such a foreign and alien land. She might have imagined herself the prodigal when she heard that scripture read. She might have wanted to return home and know for herself that welcome.

Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son to talk about the love of God for us. We have all gone astray for good reasons and for foolish ones, and we are promised the embrace of love, reconciliation and restoration. The world around the disciples and Jesus' followers was in turmoil as ours is today. He wanted them to hear this story as their story, remembering it when feeling lost, abandoned and isolated. He wants us all to remember the sight of the father running to meet the son. We will be met with a loving embrace.

Today, I ask God to help me be an agent of healing, reconciliation and peace. There are so many aching for the embrace of acceptance and love. May we all strive to be the home and family for those seeking refuge and return.