Lent 4C; Luke 15:11-32; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; St. Paul’s – 3/31/2019

8:00 service

Jim Melnyk, “The Return of the Prodigal”

One of the best ways to make a truth known is to tell a story – something Jesus did often and well.

Power of story – Jesus tells us a tale – easy to get caught up in the story – easy to identify with all the characters involved – to the point you can almost hear them speak….

+ I am the Younger Son.  So sure of myself – at least I was at one time!  Money to burn – flying high – on top of the world!  Running in overdrive –eat my dust, fools!  Taking the world by storm – the next dot-com extravaganza!  I am the Prodigal Son - tattered clothes – grumbling stomach – one shoe missing – the other worn nearly through – unable to make eye contact with the person who loves me the most – feeling lost – helpless and hopeless – spirit-broken – unloved and unlovable….

And I want to turn my life around – I have repented from my wrongs – repent: that’s a rather fancy word for a simple act that’s sometimes nearly impossible to do….

+ I am the older Brother – standing off to the side.  Contemptuous stare on my face – oh, if looks could kill…. I’ve tried to live faithfully with and for my family – I’ve always been there – always done what I was told to do – never complained and never rewarded for my faithfulness – at least that’s how it seems…I’m glad my brother’s back – well, sort of – but shouldn’t he be punished – at least a little?  When was the last time I got a new robe – or new rings or new sandals?  I’ve never even been given a goat to grill with my friends, let alone a fatted calf!  I’m the faithful one, and now I’m being pushed aside by this wretched little brother of mine!  Still, have I ever really wanted for anything?

+ I am the Loving Parent.  Stooping down to embrace my returning son.  My arms enfolding my child – the strength of my hands against his back – the feel of worn and dirty clothes covering his emaciated frame.  Compassion steals whatever anger seeks to find a home in my heart. We’ll deal with the mess later – yes we will.  But for right now – right now sorrow is reborn into joy!  Death has been conquered by life!  The lost is found!  I am Jacob and my young Joseph is alive!  Blessed be the God of my fathers and mothers!  I feel so alive right now!

+ Jesus tells us a story – and we are all of his characters!  This is whom we are – several pictures of our lives given voice in parable and written word

• poured from the soul on canvas
• reflections in a mirror for us to view
• images of ourselves to experience and know.
• This is who we are – and whose we are. 

We might call this The Parable of Anyone’s Family. It tells us who we are and who we can become by the love of Christ and the grace of God.  Sinner and saint – bedraggled and beloved – all of us caught up in the mystery that is God – all of us caught up in the mystery that is God’s love.  Grasping, lost, broken, repentant, found. Faithful, contemptuous, angry, standing on the outside. Sorrowful, loving, forgiving, enfolding and compassionate, grace-filled and grace-giving – the outward and visible expression of God’s love for all creation.

+ Jesus tells us a story – and we begin to understand how important it is that we find ways of repairing not only the brokenness in our own lives, but the brokenness of this world as well.

+ This is who we are – this is who we become. This is the love of God – given in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,” filling us and transforming us into the very likeness of God.  We are so very much like each of the brothers.

+ What is it we need to turn away from in our lives today?  Where and how do we need to repent?

+ What or who do we look upon with scorn or contempt?  Where are we living without thanksgiving?

+ Where do we need to show love and forgiveness?  Where do we need to show acceptance and grace?

+ Paul reminds us of God’s power to transform us into the image of Christ – into the very likeness of our Creator God…. “If anyone is in Christ,” he writes, “there is a new creation!  Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Godself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation….” And so, we have become ambassadors for Christ!

+ My friends, there is no limit to God’s love!  There is no place we can go where God’s love cannot find us – and call us – and make us new!  God’s love is astonishing!  It knows no bounds!  And it always calls us home to the embracing, loving arms of God!  In truth, the love of God in Christ works to transform us into the very image of the loving Parent – who is very much the earthly metaphor for God!

+ My friends: Be reconciled to God.  And where it needs be: be reconciled to one another.  In Christ we are a new creation.  We are ambassadors of Christ and Christ’s love. We are repairers of the breach – repairers of the world. As tattered as we might be or might have been – we have been, and always will be, welcomed home.