Monday, March 4, 2013

The father ran to him

This week's lectionary Gospel reading is among the most famous of all stories Jesus told. It comes from the 15th chapter of Luke's Gospel, the only Gospel it is featured in, and as I began the process of thinking about it last night, I realized the difficulty in preaching from a story that famous, that used. What can I say that is new, fresh, different?

When we read the parable of the man with two sons, because we know the story so well, we often do not see all the difficulties it presents. We think, because we know it so well, that we also understand it so well.
 
A Muslim has said of this parable, however, that it proves that the cross is unnecessary for forgiveness. The boy comes home. His father welcomes him. There is no cross. No incarnation. Therefore, Islam with no cross, no Saviour, presents the true gospel.
 
And then hearing this comment we look back at the parable and we say, "Yes, there seems to be no cross, no Savior." Nevertheless, this is a parable told by the Savior! How can this be? How can this parable, which many have called Evangelium in Evangelio, the Gospel in the Gospel, how can this parable then not teach us of Christ, if Christ is the one who tells the story?
 
How can there be no incarnation, no mediator, no Saviour and yet we celebrate the birth of a Saviour at Bethlehem?
 
As I begin this process of thinking, praying about, studying about the prodigal son, I'm taken by the fact that the father in the story waits for the son to return. I imagine lonely days and grief-stricken nights, waiting, just waiting at the window of his home, watching that old dusty road in front of the house. Waiting for a son who has done wrong by him, done wrong by anyone's idea of wrong, but he is waiting to welcome him home.
 
Then, finally, there comes a day when his son makes the turn on that road. His wait is over. The father storms out the front door, hitching up his robe to be able to run, and embarrassingly he runs to his son, holding him tightly, kissing his forehead, forgiving him in an instant.
 
To me, at this early stage of discovery, I see the glory of God come down as human flesh, this man we know as Jesus. I see a father who would do anything, including running toward us, to free us from pain and sorry. To heal us of our infirmities. To change our lives. To give us hope, even when we've lived as prodigals.
 
There are two images that I love in this parable. In one, the prodigal son is said to come to "himself," or to "his senses." Been there. Done that.
 
The other is the father running toward the son. Been there. Done that.
 
This morning, let's remember the love of this father. Let's remember the amazing grace he's showered with us. Let's remember where we were before we came to our senses.
 
 
 

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