Prodigals

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 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 travelled 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

We have all been prodigals at some (or many) point in our lives. And, we have all been the elder child too. The good news of the Gospel today is that the father, the loving parent who represents God in this parable, loves every child, every one of us, more than we can deserve, expect or even imagine. God seeks us out before we arrive, runs to us on the homecoming road, and give us all in great abundance. For those of us who feel like a prodigal, with the shame and guilt for our mistakes, make we make our way home. For those of us who are like the older brother, feeling overworked and neglected, may we to take our anger and frustration to God, trusting that we will be showered with love, forgiveness and hope.

Loving Creator, who is the source of all love

you come running when we are lost and far off

you give us your love and care in great abundance

and never stop loving is no matter our behavior.

We feel anger, betrayal and dangerously hopeless

the world is a despairing place full of great terror

we want to run to foreign places and squander love

yet you call us to come home no matter when or how.

Lord, give us an extra measure of your love today

help us prodigals to return home over and over again

help us elder children to move from anger to celebration

sharing your love in joy in our challenging places. Amen.