Fourth Sunday in Lent March 18, 2007
Scripture	Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 11 Then Jesus a said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 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. 13 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. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 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. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 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! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ 20 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. 21 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.’ 22 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. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 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.’ ”
Devotional	This is one of those parables from the biblical text that always repays a return visit. Each visit gives new and different insights. Individual rights, we believe are the foundation of our society. Possibly we have all acted within our individual right but in the process destroyed a friendship. This we see in the story of the father with two sons. The focus of this story is on coming home. The younger son went off to a strange place in search of the good life. but his heart remained at home. The elder son remained at home but his heart was in a distant place. These two sons represent both the publican and sinner and the Pharisees and scribes within us. It is not difficult to follow the rules of religion but to show real love for God and other people becomes a difficult step. Looking at our society, we see many persons who will fit the bill for being the younger brother. Looking within the church, we can too easily find those who represent the older son. Often, we have little sympathy for those who squander their resources and are unemployed. Lent being a time for reflection and self-examination can be a time to look inward for these persons within each of us. If only it was as easy to recognize them within ourselves as in others. The father who reaches out to each of these sons is our example of Christian love and compassion. How do we respond to others when it is time to go home? What response do we expect when it is time for us to come home? When were you in a foreign land? When were you in the field? How this story ends is up to each of us. There is a Father waiting with the ring, robe, and shoes ! Prayer: Lord, often we are like the younger as well as the older son but we know your are always waiting with the ring, robe, and shoes when we return home. Prepare us to welcome others in this same way.