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Sermon Luke 15:1-3,11b-32
When I go to the bus, I often pass through the Student Union Building
at UBC. Last week was Islam Week, and a booth was set up showing
the teachings and history of Islam. I began to ask questions regarding
the origins of Islam, and the young men provided me with good answers.
I asked some tough questions, and afterwards one man said, "It's
my turn to ask you questions." Some questions I expected and
some I did not, and overall it was an interesting conversation.
But one comment stuck in my mind since it is connected to today's
reading. It is the issue of forgiveness for the really rotten person.
The muslim student said, "You Christians believe that you can
go back to God over and over again and God will forgive you. This
will lead to chaos."
As I listen to today's text, I wonder most about the older brother.
He is the moral one. He has done everything his father has asked,
and never complained. Whereas his brother asks for his inheritance
before his fathers death. Basically the younger brother insults
his father, sells half the farm, and goes travelling. Not only that
but engages in some unspecified immoral living.
At the point of the younger son's return, if one measured the balance
of his life, the goodness would measure nothing. He is the anti-son.
He has done nothing to deserve his father's grace. But this is what
the father gives him. Grace; unmeritted kindness.
It is unmeritted, since the text adds the phrase, "But
while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around
him and kissed him." If the father had compassion for him
after hearing the son's repentance, perhaps we might conclude that
the father was thinking, "He has said he is sorry, so I will
have compassion." But no, it is while the son is far away.
But what about the older son, he is dutifully in the field, but
comes home to hear a party in progress. A party for his rotten brother!
And he refuses to join the unjust party.
Even against his father's pleading the older brother responds,
"'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never
disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so
I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who
has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill
the fattened calf for him!'"
The older brother feels the father has acted unjustly. His son
does not deserve this reward. This is not the way the world is suppose
to work. The good are to be rewarded, the evil punished. Such is
the order of things. The older brother has fulfilled the rules,
therefore he deserves a party, but his father has never even given
him a goat, let alone a tasty lamb as reward for his obedience.
His father's behaviour seems chaotic at best, and corrupt at worst.
His father responds, "'My son, you are always with me,
and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad,
because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was
lost and is found.' "
"We had to celebrate and be glad." I love that verse,
since it sums up the Christian way of life. Christian believe that
we all are that lost son son in some way. We protestant Christians
believe that regardless of all of humanities best efforts, regardless
of our struggles to make the balance between good and evil, all
of us fall short of attaining salvation. Moralists see sin as the
bad things we do. Stealing is a sin, visting prostitutes is a sin,
lying is a sin, killing is a sin. Yes, all of these things are sins,
and they do lead to chaos, however protestant Christians also see
sin as a state of the human heart. It is our predisposition causing
us, even when we seek the good, to create chaos and violence in
human existance. And even in the older brother we see sin at work.
Just look at the outcome of the older brother's moralism; first
he insults his father. Did you notice that, "I've slaved for
you." Well is the son is a slave, the father is the slave master.
He expects his father to reward him for just doing his job as a
son; basically he is ungraiteful. And lastly I wonder about the
prostitute comment since while the text says the younger brother
was engaging in wild living, it says nothing about prostitutes.
Does the older brother know something about his younger brothers
desires or does this comment reveal the unfulfilled desires lurking
in the hidden parts of the older brother." What lurks in the
hidden recesses of his pyche?
Some have analized the psychology of the older brother, but more
importantly and more simplely; if we look at his spirit, we discover
that the older brother is basically ungraitful. Ungraitful to God
for the blessings of a father who is successful enough to have a
farm and provide a life (even though it may be difficult) for him,
ungraitful to have such a compassionate father, and especially ungraitful
that his rotten brother is not dead. And out of this spiritual state
anger pours forth like hot steam from a boiling kettle. Who will
it burn, and what chaos will it cause.
And yet where does life shine forth in this text? It is the father's
spirit expressed in that wonderful verse "We had to celebrate
and be glad.". This spirit is the core of the Christian
life. Holy Week is coming, and we will tell the story again, of
how humanity fails God by crucifying Jesus. And from the cross itself,
while humanity is doing its worst, Jesus says, "Father forgive
them, they know not what they do." Then Jesus takes upon
himself the sins of the world. Jesus becomes sin itself, such that
we can become free from it's chains. And three days later, Our heavenly
Father raises him from the grave. He comes to us and says "peace
be with you". He welcomes us and all sort of other sinners
to the heavenly banquet. The lamb that was slaughtered, has become
for us the bread of life for us. And after hearing the good news
of God's grace, "We had to celebrate and be glad." As
we do this morning, along with millions of other Christians around
the world.
That is what the older brother does not understand. He understands
justice, but he does not understand grace. Real grace is seen as
chaos! These persons fear that people will abuse God's forgiveness,
by doing evil, then asking forgiveness. Doing evil, then asking
forgiveness. Society itself would breakdown, as justice would break
down they think.
Wwe know that immature Christians will think, "I can do anything
because God will forgive me." God forbid that we would abuse
the grace of God like that. However, those who are beginning to
understand how gracious God really is, in forgiving us when we fall
prey to the residue of sin that still clings to us in this life,
will seek with all their hearts to resist evil. Not primarly out
of obedience, but out of gratitude.
When grow in our understanding of God's grace and understand more
deeply how Christ has freed us from the condition of sin itself,
we respond by proclaiming "We had to celebrate and be glad."
We live lives of gratitude of praise. Life turns from being slavery
to sin or even slavery to morality, into gratitude and celebration.
We seek to be good not to earn salvation, but because of the gift
of salvation. Our hearts become free from bitterness and soften
into compassion for others, especially those who are enslaved by
sin.
CYes, hristians are not yet a perfect people. We have done much
that is immoral, and continue to do much that is immoral, due to
the residue of sin that still clings to our souls. However, deep
within a life based upon God's unmeritted forgiveness, is a spirit
of gratitude. A spirit, given to us through the work of Jesus Christ
on the cross, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace given to us
by a Heavenly Father who sees us lost, and while still far off prepares
a banquet for us.
Scriptures
Luke 15:1-3,11b-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering
around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law
muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3Then Jesus told them this parable:
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The
younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the
estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he
had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth
in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe
famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he
went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent
him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach
with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's
hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I
will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I
have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy
to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So
he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him
and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw
his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven
and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[2]
'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best
robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on
his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast
and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came
near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of
the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has
come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So
his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his
father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never
disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so
I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours
who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you
kill the fattened calf for him!'
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and
everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad,
because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was
lost and is found.'
Hymns
VU# 226 For the beauty of the earth
VU#682 O Day of Peace
Call to Worship
Psalm 33:1-3
Offering Prayer
You are always with us, and for that gift we are eternally thankful.
You seek justice, mercy and peace for your broken world, especially
for the poor and the powerless. We offer these gifts, in response
to your great love, such that your purpose and mission can be served.
In Christ name, AMEN.
Commissioning and Benefiction
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that
you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans
15:13)
Go in peace to love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.
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