4th Sunday Lent C Prodigal Son
The Prodigal Son
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
I wonder hominy times we have had meditated upon this beautiful story. The prodigal son's decision to leave the father's house and to immerse himself into a life of rebellion, clearly illustrates the nature of sin. Every sin is an abuse of human freedom. When we sin, we defy God who loves us unconditionally. When he asks for his inheritance, the young son isn't simply asking for a large sum of money. He is in effect saying to his father: "I'm treating you as if you're dead. And I want to get now what I'm supposed to receive after you're dead.”
No matter how great your sins may be, this is the day of grace. The bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isa.55:7)
Notice the steps of Young son’s conversion. There were steps away from God: rebellion against the father, desire for total independence, waste of inheritance, desperate need, debasement and bondage. It is the way of sin, always. But just as there were steps away, so also are steps back. The consequences of sin are always disastrous. Every sinner always experiences profound sadness. As the poet laureate told the congress of the U.S. one day, "the greater honor should go to the one who saw ahead and invented the brake."
First there is an awakening to one’s true condition (v.17). One of the tragedies of sin is that it blinds us to our condition; so we imagine ourselves to be happy when in reality we are miserable or free when we are enslaved. The most miserable people I know think they are happy, or at least are trying to convince themselves they are happy. The prodigal son even when he had to take a job with a detested pig farmer, he supposed he was only doing it on a short- term basis to keep body and soul together until his bad fortune changed. The prodigal son did the most unthinkable job for a Jew. He worked with swine; he worked with what was unclean.
Then he "came to himself". This is a very hard thing to understand. A man cannot be saved unless he comes to himself. What does this mean? In saving our souls, two things must we know. One is to know God, and other is to know ourselves. The two are learned in parallel. If you learn only of God, you will be filled with pride, and your soul will be paralyzed. If you know only about your sins and your unworthiness and know little about God, you will be filled with despondency and fear, or escapism, and your soul will also be paralyzed, unable to do good. But if you learn of yourself and God at the same time, God will reveal Himself and self-knowledge also, within you. Once you know where you are and who you are, it is very easy to make a good decision to rectify your life.
The fist step in conversion is a recognition and repudiation of the lie, which actually an awakening to reality.
The second step in the prodigal’s conversion was an honest confession of true sin. Notice he did not speak of his “Youthful wild oats,” “faults” or “failings”. He did not blame others, as Adam had blamed Eve or Eve the serpent. No! He confessed his sins. We remember King David, who prayed, “Against you, you alone, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Ps.51:4).
Finally the third step in his conversion was an actual return to the father. Thinking alone did not save him, confession alone did not save him, he need to turn around and seek God. And that he did! He actually left his sin and returned to his Father.
When the prodigal son left home, he said “Give Me”. He wanted something. When he returned home a much wiser, but sadder youth, he said, “Make me”. This is the conversion of heart. From “give me” mentality to “make me” mentality.
When the prodigal son came to his senses with the pigs and decided to return to his father he did not expect his father to treat him again as his son. So he made up his mind that he would ask to become one of his servants. He could not imagine that his father would want him back as his son again. He had a warped understanding of his father’s forgiveness. We have a warped understanding of God’s mercy for us. We make the mistake of thinking that God is like us and so we cannot understand God’s mercy. God made us in his image and likeness and ever since then we are making God in our image and likeness.
But when the younger son was on the way back home his father was outside waiting for him. His father ran to him, clasped him in his arms and kissed him. That is what God is like, always longing and waiting for our love. That love and care and concern of God for us is expressed beautifully in Ps 139,O Lord, you search me and you know me, You know my resting and my rising,…Behind and before you besiege me, Your hand ever laid upon me. Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, Too high, beyond my reach.
When we return to God he throws a party for us. Even though the son was far away from his sight, he was never away from his heart. Mercy of our loving God is overflowing.
But there was one who was not celebrating- the older Son. We sympathize with the older son because we think of ourselves as being like him. We are not like the prodigal- so we imagine. We are like that faithful, hardworking, obedient son- so we suppose. But we are not! What was wrong with the older son? Several things: first, he loved property more than people. He would have been quite happy if the money had come back and his brother had been lost. As it was he was angry that the property was lost and his brother recovered. Second, and as a result of his first error, he had an inflated estimate of his own importance and a scorn of others. He was loyal, hardworking, and obedient- or so he thought. So low was his opinion of his brother that he would not even acknowledge his relationship to him, calling him only “the sons of yours” (v.30).
Far away hills look green, there are many attractions in life, there are many voices saying to us ‘Follow me’ or ‘Follow your desires and you will find happiness.’ But the best offer of happiness is from God our Father, “all I have is yours”. This is a most beautiful promise and invitation. After reading this parable we also have a choice to make, will we stay outside or will we go in to enjoy the Father’s party. God our heavenly Father is outside the door waiting for us to come to him. When we return he runs to us, clasps us in his arms and invites us into the party.
So, to summarize, this parable teaches us that God loves us so much; He is willing to forgive even our most terrible sins, as long as we return to Him in repentance and humility.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
I wonder hominy times we have had meditated upon this beautiful story. The prodigal son's decision to leave the father's house and to immerse himself into a life of rebellion, clearly illustrates the nature of sin. Every sin is an abuse of human freedom. When we sin, we defy God who loves us unconditionally. When he asks for his inheritance, the young son isn't simply asking for a large sum of money. He is in effect saying to his father: "I'm treating you as if you're dead. And I want to get now what I'm supposed to receive after you're dead.”
No matter how great your sins may be, this is the day of grace. The bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isa.55:7)
Notice the steps of Young son’s conversion. There were steps away from God: rebellion against the father, desire for total independence, waste of inheritance, desperate need, debasement and bondage. It is the way of sin, always. But just as there were steps away, so also are steps back. The consequences of sin are always disastrous. Every sinner always experiences profound sadness. As the poet laureate told the congress of the U.S. one day, "the greater honor should go to the one who saw ahead and invented the brake."
First there is an awakening to one’s true condition (v.17). One of the tragedies of sin is that it blinds us to our condition; so we imagine ourselves to be happy when in reality we are miserable or free when we are enslaved. The most miserable people I know think they are happy, or at least are trying to convince themselves they are happy. The prodigal son even when he had to take a job with a detested pig farmer, he supposed he was only doing it on a short- term basis to keep body and soul together until his bad fortune changed. The prodigal son did the most unthinkable job for a Jew. He worked with swine; he worked with what was unclean.
Then he "came to himself". This is a very hard thing to understand. A man cannot be saved unless he comes to himself. What does this mean? In saving our souls, two things must we know. One is to know God, and other is to know ourselves. The two are learned in parallel. If you learn only of God, you will be filled with pride, and your soul will be paralyzed. If you know only about your sins and your unworthiness and know little about God, you will be filled with despondency and fear, or escapism, and your soul will also be paralyzed, unable to do good. But if you learn of yourself and God at the same time, God will reveal Himself and self-knowledge also, within you. Once you know where you are and who you are, it is very easy to make a good decision to rectify your life.
The fist step in conversion is a recognition and repudiation of the lie, which actually an awakening to reality.
The second step in the prodigal’s conversion was an honest confession of true sin. Notice he did not speak of his “Youthful wild oats,” “faults” or “failings”. He did not blame others, as Adam had blamed Eve or Eve the serpent. No! He confessed his sins. We remember King David, who prayed, “Against you, you alone, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Ps.51:4).
Finally the third step in his conversion was an actual return to the father. Thinking alone did not save him, confession alone did not save him, he need to turn around and seek God. And that he did! He actually left his sin and returned to his Father.
When the prodigal son left home, he said “Give Me”. He wanted something. When he returned home a much wiser, but sadder youth, he said, “Make me”. This is the conversion of heart. From “give me” mentality to “make me” mentality.
When the prodigal son came to his senses with the pigs and decided to return to his father he did not expect his father to treat him again as his son. So he made up his mind that he would ask to become one of his servants. He could not imagine that his father would want him back as his son again. He had a warped understanding of his father’s forgiveness. We have a warped understanding of God’s mercy for us. We make the mistake of thinking that God is like us and so we cannot understand God’s mercy. God made us in his image and likeness and ever since then we are making God in our image and likeness.
But when the younger son was on the way back home his father was outside waiting for him. His father ran to him, clasped him in his arms and kissed him. That is what God is like, always longing and waiting for our love. That love and care and concern of God for us is expressed beautifully in Ps 139,O Lord, you search me and you know me, You know my resting and my rising,…Behind and before you besiege me, Your hand ever laid upon me. Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, Too high, beyond my reach.
When we return to God he throws a party for us. Even though the son was far away from his sight, he was never away from his heart. Mercy of our loving God is overflowing.
But there was one who was not celebrating- the older Son. We sympathize with the older son because we think of ourselves as being like him. We are not like the prodigal- so we imagine. We are like that faithful, hardworking, obedient son- so we suppose. But we are not! What was wrong with the older son? Several things: first, he loved property more than people. He would have been quite happy if the money had come back and his brother had been lost. As it was he was angry that the property was lost and his brother recovered. Second, and as a result of his first error, he had an inflated estimate of his own importance and a scorn of others. He was loyal, hardworking, and obedient- or so he thought. So low was his opinion of his brother that he would not even acknowledge his relationship to him, calling him only “the sons of yours” (v.30).
Far away hills look green, there are many attractions in life, there are many voices saying to us ‘Follow me’ or ‘Follow your desires and you will find happiness.’ But the best offer of happiness is from God our Father, “all I have is yours”. This is a most beautiful promise and invitation. After reading this parable we also have a choice to make, will we stay outside or will we go in to enjoy the Father’s party. God our heavenly Father is outside the door waiting for us to come to him. When we return he runs to us, clasps us in his arms and invites us into the party.
So, to summarize, this parable teaches us that God loves us so much; He is willing to forgive even our most terrible sins, as long as we return to Him in repentance and humility.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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