When I was candidating for the ministry I worked as lay pastor at the
At night the area was quiet, but all sorts of folks would walk the streets - some of them prostitutes, some of them dealing in drugs.
Two street people, a man and a woman, who had been partners for a long time, one day decided to get married. The wedding was arranged - the Salvation Army Chapel in Wynberg was the venue for the wedding.
The whole affair was one great big moment, when I had the privilege of seeing God’s Kingdom shining through into the world around me. The bride to be, very much in love with her husband to be, had secured a job washing dishes at a local restaurant, and found a place for her and her husband to live. A dress maker in the area had heard about the wedding and made a dress specifically for her…
I was volunteered by my congregation to lead the singing.
* * *
The Kingdom moment for me - was standing in front of the congregation, leading them in the hymn: Amazing Grace. I looked out on a small sea of smiling / enraptured faces - lit up with joy.
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me… I once was lost, but now am found - was blind but now I see.”
I have never heard that song sung so convincingly before - or since… and let me tell you about the congregation:
Some police men and women who knew the local street people. Some ministers from the area. Bergies - more drunk than usual. The local prostitutes - in all their shapes and sizes: Transvestites even, all in the chapel that day - singing God’s praises and about God’s love for them.
* * *
The parable which we read in Luke’s gospel is part of a set of 3 parables which Jesus tells in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees - “they grumbled saying: “This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!””
Parables about God’s boundless and scandalous grace offered to all people.
Three parables: The parable of the Lost Sheep - ““Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them—what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it.””
The parable of the lost coin: “Suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them—what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it...”
Finally - the parable of the Lost Son.
* * *
You’ve probably heard the parable a thousand times… a man has two sons - one of them demands his inheritance before his father is dead, he goes to a foreign country and wastes all his money in reckless living…
He ends up hungry, feeding pigs for a living - longing to eat what the pigs eat. He thinks to himself: “My father’s workers have plenty and here I am starving.” Returns home. As he arrives home his father runs to meet him and welcome him in - immediately calling for a great celebration…
His older brother grumbles.
* * *
In one of my favourite books The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen, Nouwen reflects on a painting painted by Rembrandt van Rijn - of the same title.
Van Rijn painted his interpretation of this parable in about 1969, shortly after the death of his beloved son, Titus - Titus was the last, and only surviving out of four children whom he had by his first wife, Saskia, who died at 30 years of age.
Van Rijn’s deep love for his own son is reflected in the tenderness with which the old man in the painting - half blind and worn out by life holds the prodigal at his breast.
* * *
The parable may be given many titles… It is commonly called the parable of the prodigal son; but is it not perhaps: The parable of the older brother; or maybe: The parable of the gracious father?
Is it about a son who repents - goes home and is accepted with rejoicing?
Is it about an older brother who resents the fact that his brother is welcomed so warmly?
Or is it about the undying and irrevocable love of a father?
* * *
Jesus tells this parable in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees… he uses it to challenge their perception of who God is or what God is like, and what God’s relationship with people is really like.
* * *
It was probably a common story in Jesus time, (examples of it have been found in C2 Jewish literature) but in its common form it ended with the son in a far away land, cut off from the community - desolate and deserted.
Jesus’ original hearers wouldn’t have expected the bit which Jesus adds on to the story…
* * *
Jesus continues where the story would normally end. With the story of how this runaway child realises who he is…
“Coming to his senses…” (Jesus end to the story begins.)
He realises that he is his father’s child.
In spite of the fact that he has disowned his father / broken off his relationship with him... he realises that this is not something you can undo... he is fundamentally connected to his parent.
He decides to return home; with an apology prepared.
“I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men…”
Even before he’s had a chance to say these words - his father is already looking out for him, expecting him… running to him, embracing him and kissing him.
Amidst the hugs and kisses the son gets out a part of his planned confession…
“But” it says in verse 22… (not conditional like therefore - but (in spite of what the son was saying)) the father was already calling the servants - bring the best robe and clothe him - put a ring on his finger…
The father immediately and unconditionally affirms that this young man is his son… the robe and the ring, symbols that he belongs - is a part of this family.
* * *
Look at Rembrandt’s painting - see how he depicts the intimacy with which the son is embraced - he rests against the father’s chest (like a young boy) he belongs here.
* * *
Rembrandt paints the older brother, standing on the right hand side of the picture, looking a little glum, his hands folded - reluctant to hug the younger brother as the father has.
Interpreters suggest that the older brother represents the Pharisees, who grumble about Jesus’ love and care for the outcast.
In a rewards based world we can identify quite well with the older brother - we really don’t understand and refuse to grasp this concept of unconditional love which the father offers. There must be some sort of hierarchy!
That is what we’re used to.
There must be some measure of judgement - 1st 2nd 3rd place?!
No. In the
The Father’s response to the concerned older brother is to remind him… my son - you are my son, you also belong here, what is mine is yours.
* * *
Finally - as the whole story has directed us, our attention is drawn to the Father… This parable is not the parable of the prodigal son - it is the parable of the compassionate Father. The one who seeks the one who is lost, the one who - before the words of confession are on our lips - embraces us and lets us know that we are all a part of his family.
Jesus is telling us what God is like.
* * *
Nouwen suggests that we probably identify - either with the older brother or the younger son. In both cases we are realising that we belong to this family… in both cases we are realising that this family is wider than we expected it to be.
The call of the passage to us, Nouwen suggests, is to become more and more like the Father… In the words of the letter to the Ephesians 5:1-2: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and life a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
* * *
To be able to love, like the father in the parable, we need to begin by realising - like the younger son - that we are loved… we belong.
Like the older brother - to know that our belonging is not dependant on our works, but on God’s faithfulness.
Then we will see the
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