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Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."
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Then He said, "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"
- Luke 15:1-2,11-32
In yesterday's reading, we read that all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lam, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!' Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." The lectionary begins today's readings with the verses from yesterday's, so that we are set in the place and time in which today's parable is told.
Then He said, "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood." My study bible says of the parable of the Prodigal Son, "This parable, perhaps the most magnificent of all parables, occurs only in Luke and illustrates God's unconditional love and forgiveness for the repentant sinner." It also tells us that "the father fulfills the request of the son out of profound respect for his freedom, and he lets him go for the same reason. God neither holds nor pulls anyone by force." I think the concept of freedom here is essential for us to understand; it is love that is in operation. Nobody is compelled but comes to God through response to love.
"And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything." My study bible tells us, "Condescending to feed swine, unclean and despised animals to Jews, is an act of utter desperation." The pods are carob pods. If we look carefully at the words "prodigal living" we get a sense of wastefulness, but much more than that. The real root of this word translates literally as something like "unsaved." In other words, an absolute loss, the wasting of a soul, of a life.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father." My study bible says, "Extreme need brings the prodigal son to his senses, but what draws him homeward is probably his father's love."
"But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." My study bible says that "the father's tender actions show he never ceased looking for the return of his son, just as God always longs for the return of every sinner to His forgiving embrace. In Jewish culture, it was considered undignified for an older man to run, but that did not stop this father." Meeting him "on the way" and embracing the son by falling on his neck and kissing him is like a symbol of Christ, who is sent into the world to retrieve, to meet us, who runs toward us with love, as He has been sent.
"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry." A note tells us, "The father does not censure the contrite son, but celebrates his homecoming as of one who came alive from the dead. The symbolic significance of the robe is righteousness (Is. 61:10), the ring (a signet ring) is family identity (Hag. 2:23), and sandals refer to walking according to the gospel (Eph. 6:15)."
"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'" My study bible notes: "The father also has to deal with the resentful older son and does so with the same gentle loving kindness shown to the younger. By contrast, this son shows a pharisaic attitude of self-righteousness and contempt for his brother, much like a Church member who does not wish to be bothered with visitors or new converts."
I think it's important to recognize the symbolism of the signet ring. It is a ring that bears the family crest; therefore, the family name. A king's or a royal house of any kind would use such a ring for authenticating documents or even property as belonging to that house. Therefore the ring takes on great significance, because this "son" is "in his father's name" -- of the family in the deepest sense, despite his profligacy; that is, the great loss incurred through wasted time, wasted life, a soul that loses its nourishment for growth and sustenance. This is what it means to be a profligate in this deepest sense here, and what it means to be so loved as to be restored to full membership in this house, in love. The question of restoration becomes one of true family, where the father is willing to bestow all that he has out of the joy of the return of what was lost. So again, as in the previous two parables from yesterday's reading, we get a sense of return, a return home. It's important, because in our own lives and perspectives we may not understand that when we turn to God we're not just going there for the "first time," even though this may be our perspective. From God's perspective, we're returning home, we're turning back so that what was lost is found. And that's where we are, and where we're greeted -- as something precious that was lost, a place empty that is now being filled. So how does love greet you when you turn in prayer? None of us are exempt from this place; at least I know there are times I "forget God" and must draw back. The parable -- as I see it -- covers each of us. Remember when you pray you are always "back home," and this is the love that welcomes your return. In this sense, the fullness of this house is all of our fullness, one more welcome should make each of us joyful.
