Friday, July 3, 2015

Today’s Reading  |  Luke 15:1–2, 11–32
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 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.’” (NRSV)

Reflection
This beautiful parable is the third in a row illustrating the depth, breadth, and focus of God’s love. Each has the theme of losing something of value and finding it again. Waiting and uncertainty must be endured; there is seeking and action taken and openness to the possibility of finding what is lost and being reconciled to it.

For the wayward son this included humility, self-reflection, honesty, and action. For the father it meant following his heart and distancing himself from self-righteousness, conventional notions of right and wrong (legalism), and pride. The brother represents our tendency to think that if we work hard, follow the rules, and conform to societal expectations, we will achieve the highest level of connection: love and closeness. It is reassuring and upsetting that the richest, most intense love and connection happens around brokenness and the subsequent reconciling of what has been lost.

I am so relieved this parable is part of my faith tradition because of what it tells me about God’s love for and stance toward us when we have lost our way and experience a cutoff from the love and acceptance of ourselves, others, and God. Isn’t it a relief to know that if we turn toward God with humility that reconciliation will unfold? It also sets out a model for how we can work to reconcile and lovingly integrate the lost or cut-off parts of ourselves (lost connection with loved ones, friends, coworkers, those different from us by culture, race, beliefs, orientation, and lifestyles). I believe that by accepting God’s ever-present integrative love for us, we increase our own ability to take the same stance towards others and ourselves. 

Prayer
Dear God, we both know that I will get lost and find myself feeling separate from you. Sometimes I may even get lost in the midst of my sincere efforts to follow the rules and do the right thing. When that happens, help me remember this story, and help me to believe even a little bit that if I turn toward you, you will always be there to embrace me and reintegrate me into the oneness of your love. Amen.

Written by Thomas Schemper, Director, Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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