Week beginning 24th September

 

Song: Give to our God immortal praise

Give to our God immortal praise - YouTube

Prayer:

Loving Father, you are a God of mercy and compassion.

We thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, into our world to show and teach us how to love.

When we walk through the door or worship during this holy time, may we open our hearts to you so that we may reflect your love, mercy and compassion in our families, communities and parishes.

May we walk with Jesus through the ‘streets of Galilee’, comforting the sick, opening our arms to the ‘little ones’, sharing with the poor and searching out the marginalised in our society.

May it be a time when barriers between us fall and reconciliation becomes possible: a year when our faith in your mercy is strengthened and we learn how to be your face of mercy in our world.

Amen

adapted from www.cbcew.org.uk

Song: Sing we the King who is coming to reign

Sing we the King who is coming to reign (Charles Horne) - YouTube

Reading: Luke’s gospel, chapter 15, verses 11 to 24

Song: I’m not ashamed to own my Lord

I'm Not Ashamed To Own My Lord - YouTube

Usually called the story of the prodigal son, this is perhaps better called the story of two sons, or perhaps the story of the generous father.

Often, people in the U.K. learned to read from the “Janet and John” books. Once the basics have been mastered, people progress to reading with understanding, something which in my youth was tested in what were called “comprehension” tests. When reading the bible, the skill of reading with understanding is essential, and the first aid to understanding is that the society of the Middle East, 2000 years ago was nothing like western Europe today.

In the Middle East, people thought of things differently. Theirs was not a western society, nor a western religion. Although it doesn’t always make sense to a modern, western mind, the concept of honour is everything. The honour of the family is to be upheld at all costs, and this story is a series of dishonourable acts according to this code. It is necessary to try to understand what is honourable or worthy, and what is shameful or dishonourable.

Jesus is telling this story to an audience of Scribes and Pharisees, and much of the story is contrary to their normal thinking.

In verse 12, the shameful request is made by the son to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” This is the youngest member of the family making an unthinkable, disrespectful request. It is tantamount to him saying “I wish you were dead.” He doesn’t want the father’s restraining influence on his life. At many funerals nowadays, apparently it is common to request “I did it my way”. Certainly this son is wanting to do it his way, and not God’s way.

The actions of the son are a violation of the fifth commandment about honouring one’s parents. It seems that the son has no interest in developing his inheritance as a business, he simply wants the cash for selfish living.

There is no precedent in Jewish law for this request. He should have expected a slap in the face, or other punishment, his father should have protected his honour.

But, father panders to the wilful rebel, even though he has been publicly disrespected. His actions are dishonourable, to the point of being ridiculous; no son would behave in this ridiculous way; no father would respond in this ridiculous way.

Once his wishes have been acceded to, the son does not delay. Driven by his desire for cash and freedom, he turns his inheritance into cash by selling, probably at a discount for a quick sale. He then leaves for a distant country in order to escape from the restrictions, scrutiny and accountability of home. There he squanders his wealth in irresponsible living.

Then comes a famine, not his fault, but these things happen from time to time, and he becomes a beggar. Eventually, he becomes attached (glued?) to a family who use him to look after pigs. How low can a Jew get? Jesus’ listeners would have been outraged by the idea that even a starving Jew might want to share the pigs’ food.

He was desperate. The message is that desperation, the result of the sin of rebellion against God. God gives freedom, and that freedom includes the right to choose how far a person wants to take sin.

Today, there are plenty of people who show total disdain God. Who desire to get away from God, and to selfishly indulge themselves. They will never find fulfilment, only hopelessness. It is worth noting that not all sinners are this bad!

Repentance (changing direction) follows. The son comes to the realisation that even his father’s hired hands are better of than he is. They have “more than enough”, because his father is a merciful and good man.

He decides that his father will receive him because he is good. He realises that he can expect nothing, and decides to offer to work as a hired hand. This would involves him working for years/decades to pay off his liability.

The listeners, Scribes and Pharisees would undoubtedly have been saying among themselves “That’s exactly what he should do!”

Here, the father has opportunity to sustain his honour by doing what the hearers think; by making the son earn reconciliation through restitution. Instead, he does what is shameful, he runs out to him, out of compassion he embraced him and kissed him. Father must have been looking out, seeking his son. Running was unthinkable for a gentleman of the period. It was not dignified; it was scarcely possible in their long robes; he would have had to lift up his garments as he ran through the village, almost indecent by the standards of the day.

This was selfless love on the father’s part; he took the shame through the village so the son did not have to.

Father has forgiven the son; he receives him fully. It is grace, an underserved gift, which he received all the same.

He does not get to continue with the line about making his one of the hired hands, it would have been an insult to the father.

Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve, and mercy is when he does not give us what we do deserve. Reconciliation is followed by rejoicing.

From that moment, the full dignity, authority and responsibility of the father is restored.

Even the most extreme sinner can receive God’s grace and mercy. Jesus took the shame on the cross so that we can join in the celebration

Song: Come let us sing of a wonderful love

Come let us sing of a wonderful love - YouTube