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Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." 'So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' " (Luke 15:1-3; 1b-32 NRSV)
The nerve of Jesus to hang around and care for the lost, the last, and the least! His socializing with "those people" upset "these people" -namely the ones God had called them to love in the first place. But it is in the midst of that discussion that Jesus shares one of the best known and best loved stories of God's love. And the story includes everyone, for Jesus speaks of fathers and sons, and brothers and brothers; and yes, sisters are a part of this story too; for who has not had a problem with siblings?
The story starts with wealth and property, and the youngest child demanding his share. This is also a story of impatience, for the child could not wait for Daddy to die; he wanted his inheritance right away. The story is about leaving home and traveling, something most everyone wants to do. And no better way to travel that with lots of money. The son goes everywhere he wants and spends his money however he wanted. It may have been that he even sent postcards to his older brother sharing all the details of the good time he was having - wish you were here!
Then the money runs out just as a famine hits the place where he spent his last cent. The only work this good Jewish boy can find is with a pig farmer who hires him to slop the hogs. In other words, Jesus says, our hero has fallen to the lowest place he could possible fall. And to top it all off, he's hungry. He's so hungry, Jesus say, he would have eaten some of the pig slop, but he did not have permission to do such a thing, and it is there that it hits him - Daddy has farmhands who eat three squares each and every day, and here he is starving among hogs. In his mind, he prepares the statement for Daddy - "I don't deserve to be your son, but could I please come on as one of your hired hands?" And he sets off home. What many do not know is that since day one that this child has been gone, Dad's been sitting on the front porch of his house on his rocking chair looking down the dirt road that leads to the main highway in hopes that one day his long lost child might be making his way up that road. And that day was today, when he saw the skeleton of that child walking towards the main house. The moment he had been waiting on for so many years and Dad in his old age, gets up from that rocker and runs to meet his son. He grabs his son and kisses him, and the boy tries to give his little speech; Dad doesn't hear a word, for he immediately plans a celebration, a huge barbecue, and he outfits his son in decent clothing, and a DJ starts the party with music.
Meanwhile, the oldest son comes in from another part of the farm and hears the music. He asks one of the hands what's going on, and the worker says,"Your brother's back, and your Dad's throwing him a party!" Not so good news to this older child. He goes straight to Daddy and confronts him, "What's the meaning of this? I've been here slaving for you and not once have you even given me a goat with which to have a party of my own; this child of yours went and wasted your money on prostitutes and you've killed the fatted calf for him?" Dad lovingly and patiently replies, "Son, you've been the good son; you've stayed here and worked hard for me, and all that I have is yours, but we had to throw this party of thanksgiving, because your brother was dead and now he is alive, lost and he has been found." Yikes, that story was for the religious people! They had failed at their job and here they were criticizing Jesus for doing what they should have been doing. Did they get the story?
Did you?
PRAYER: Loving God, bless me with understanding; lead me to faithfulness and fruitfulness. I want to be a part of reaching the lost, the last , and the least. Help me to rejoice greatly when that happens. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
