March 14, 2010

2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-32
“As Long As”


The people running things have asked Jesus a question, “Why do you eat and associate with sinners?” And his reply is, ”Let me tell you a story.” His parable of a father and son is one of three – including that of a widow and her coin and a shepherd and his sheep.


This story, like the others, is more about the persistence of the concerned than the lost, found but about - appropriate for our Lenten journey as we continue to examine who we are and “rethink” our life in relation to God. Return to relationship (or reconciliation) is a powerful theme, but it is not an easy thing. It can call for changing habits, changing minds, and changing lives. In this story, we have been asked to see ourselves in its characters – in the young son, the father, the older son, even the neighbors who have watched (and talked about) everything as it has unfolded.


However, a different perspective on today’s reading from Luke might also reveal what a ‘kingdom life’ requires of us, as the church, the body of Christ – in our actions toward “the one who was dead but is now alive.” Whether it is the hungry, desperate for food; the jobless, at the end of their resources; the lonely, with no one to turn to; or those who have turned their back on the church, and yet want to be closer to God - what do we do? How do we respond? What might it mean, this Lent, to be a prodigal church that like the father unconditionally welcomed home his son? How would we behave then?


Barbara Brown Taylor reminds us, "There were not extra steps between the younger son's return and his welcome home party, no heart-to-heart with the old man, no extra chores, no go-to-your-room-for-a-week-and-think-about-what-you-have-done, just a clean robe for his back, and a fine ring for his hand, and a pair of new sandals for his feet." It hardly seems fair, does it?


Are we being asked to allow ourselves to attend ‘their’ party, to celebrate ‘their’ having been found when we have been here all along? When we have been taught or come to believe God loves those who are good more than those who are not, it can be hard to get our minds around the idea God’s love and grace are so unconditional. Is Jesus implying, as a church, we should show a little grace too, loving and accepting others in the same way - unconditionally? Is that what he is saying?


Taylor helps us understand the significance of the parable when she points out the love of a father who "does not love either of his sons according to what they deserve. He just loves them, more because of who he is than because of who they are." " (Taylor's sermon, "The Prodigal Father," is in The Preaching Life) It is easy to focus on our faults and imperfection, thinking ourselves unworthy of God’s love. We might even think that about others. But the way we see things isn’t necessarily the way God sees it.


Paul says, “Regard no one from a human point of view.” In other words, look at others as God does – as “becoming new.” He says “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”


Ours is a persistent God, a god who doesn’t give up on us, or anyone else. That is the good news today.