PRODIGAL SON
How many of us this hear “There was a man who had two sons” and think: a-ha! I know this one.
And – very likely – we do.
We’ve heard it before.
We’ve seen the artwork – the Rembrandt – "a moment stretching into eternity"
We’ve heard sermons on it.
Maybe we’ve attended bible studies on it.
We know this one.
Sure, we get the basics.
Two brothers.
The wild child, and the “never a problem” child.
The partier, the worker.
The one who goes, and who learns painfully that real life can be hard.
The one who stays, and works diligently – and learns that real life can be hard.
And the father who loves them both.
Who goes out of his way to greet them and bring them back
We know this one.
But… Do we know this one?
Or do we get comfortable in presuming we know this one.
I for one, read the scriptures this week and thought: a-ha! I know this one!
In prayer, was invited to consider more deeply what I know – and what I maybe thought I knew – and to go deeper.
Even the basics of what we thought we knew:
the word prodigal – though society/culture suggests virtuous, it means wasteful. Squanderer. NOT something to be held up.
Thinking we know the brothers – but do we? They were estranged.
Tension in narrative invites us to be really aware of that distance.
Relationship before? After?
Siblings – rivalry continued? Friendship?
Relationship moving forward unknown
Young son back home: Rest at home? Work fields? Servant in the household?
Older son: Stay? Acquiesce? Stay bitter?
Eventual inheritance: Shared? Only to older?
We don’t know.
Jesus didn’t tell us.
Because the details of this parable weren’t what Jesus was trying to teach us:
Jesus was inviting us to go deeper.
To see times in our lives when we have been estranged from siblings
To understand that wherever we are in our journey, we all need to come to the Father
That the Father’s love will never waver.
That we are always welcomed to come back home.
The parable gives us a LOT more to think about that what we think we know.
Challenges us to listen – pray – reflect – and consider.
Especially in this season of Lent: to go deeper.
We want to be careful and not over-simplify the parable – the context of Jewish tradition and historical context.
Not to just assign one character to one person or situation;
But to recognise that we are all these individuals: and none of them:
That this is a parable of that time; and our time.
So let’s revisit what we know – and see if we really know it.
Maybe it’s time to consider our views about:
Relationships – family and friends
Political issues – asking questions!
Society’s challenges – and how we address them
Our religious and Spiritual journeys: where are we?
I think the parable today teaches us many things:
And over many years we reconsider it.
But this year, let’s see it as the invitation that it can be…
To dig deeper.
Seeking holiness and beauty in the time that God has given us.
Finding and extending grace and blessing – to our selves, our loved ones, our communities, and our world.
Let’s see the world not as “a-ha! I know this one!”
But as an opportunity for God to open our eyes anew – and surprise us with joy.
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