Father Gary’s Sermon

Inspired from Luke 15:11-32

Proclaimed on March 21, 2004

Helmut Thielicke is a well-known biblical scholar who also wrote The Waiting Father. Part of this writing is about the “Prodigal Son.” In it he shares one of his earliest memories as a father. One afternoon, as he was looking after his infant son, he sat him down in front of a large mirror. This was an altogether new experience for this child, as he at first did not recognize the image in the mirror as that of his own. He just sat there staring at the little boy in the mirror, which was staring back at him. Soon the image in the glass wall before him began smiling at him, and the infant began goo-gooing in return. Then suddenly the expression on his face changed. His infant son was now realizing that the movements in the mirror were very similar to his movements. A little later, pointing at the mirror, his son exclaimed, “That’s me!”

Thielicke likens this “aha” experience of his son with our own spiritual encounters with God when we first recognize that the parables of Jesus are more than just interesting tales. When we begin to realize that these parables are actually mirrors, suddenly we understand that they are our personal stories. At that moment, we are able to look intimately within them and like the pointing son of Thielicke, say, “That’s me!”

Let us now see if we can see ourselves in our Gospel reading this morning. Here we find Jesus on his way to Jerusalem for one last time. Along the way Jesus is confronted by a group of religious authorities. They complain to him about the bad company that he is keeping. Jesus responds to them by telling them three little stories, stories about things that are lost, the last one being about The Prodigal Son. This story is about a family that lived on a fertile strip of land that ran along the Jordan River. However, the rainfall in this area was scare and unpredictable, and making a living in this vicinity was hard. A father who was a very religious Jew, who had built a sizable home that could accommodate his sons and their families, headed the family. This father had two sons: an older son who would receive ²/₃ of the estate and become the head of the household when the father died; as well as a younger son who would inherent a portion of what was left, and would be left dependent on his older brother when the father passed on. Something happened in this household, for Jesus tells us that the younger son became angry, demanded his part of the inheritance, and left the family in a huff. In leaving this household, he was outright rejecting the household, along with his father’s faith and values. He was lost out of choice. We are all only too familiar with the rest of the story. In his state of loss, he squanders his inheritance and ends up destitute and utterly alone. While he had lost everything he owned, he had not lost his memory, and he recalled that even his father’s servants lived better than this. So he returned home, not to claim any inheritance, or even any love; he just wanted a job. However, to his surprise he was received by a waiting father as a long lost son. Before he could even open his mouth to confess his arrogance, failure, and to beg for a job; his father hugged him closely, put a ring signifying sonship on his finger, cleaned him up and richly clothed him, and then ordered the slaying of the fatted calf, putting on the biggest feast that that family had experienced in a long time.

Hearing all of the commotion, the older son who was out sweating in the fields, came in to check out what was going on. When he found out, he was livid, and refused to join the festivities. Why celebrate the return of this reprobate? But then again, maybe there was some jealousy, as well. He did not necessarily enjoy being at home any more than his brother, but he remained out of duty. But was this duty out of love; or was it simply to hang around and protect his inheritance? Whatever his reasons were, to his father his younger brother was born anew, but as far as he was concerned his brother was still dead.

Jesus did not give an ending to this story. That was for the religious authorities he was addressing to do. And now, the story is passed on to us. How do you think it should end? If this parable is indeed intended to be a mirror held before us, is the object we see alien to us, a matter of curiosity, or are we able to identify ourselves in it? Are we the Prodigal child? Or are we the dutiful and resentful child? Or, per chance, are we the loving parent? Or maybe even a little bit of each? Whatever we see, we are the ones who will determine how this story ends.

Or are we? Here is a story that may give us another perspective. A minister was telling his Sunday School class the story of the Prodigal Son in a contemporary manner. He described the great celebration when the younger son returned as a big party. He then asked the class, “Who can tell me who was sorry that there was a party going on?” After some silence a young boy raised his hand and said, “The fatted calf!”

Great point! While it is true that a parable is like a mirror in which we see ourselves, wherein we identify with the younger child, the older child, or even the parent; it also has a reflection of Jesus. He is the fatted calf! He is totally innocent. He is without any fault. And yet, the party is made possible at his expense.

Today this party is continued when we gather for Holy Eucharist, celebrating our hope for the greatest party ever. And when we stand or bow before that altar, we must remember that yes, this is a party, but it is made possible because of Jesus--the fatted calf--whose body we will eat, and whose blood we will drink. He is the fatted calf provided by a loving father who offers the same love, the same forgiveness, and the same transformation regardless of our response. Today, once again, we will be the ones who determine how the parable of the prodigal child will end. For it a story about us! It is our story! But it is also God’s story! And most importantly, it shows us how we ultimately may fit into God’s story!