Luke 15,1-3. 11-32

Dear congregation

This story of the prodigal son - or perhaps better: of the merciful father - is probably one of the best-known parables of Jesus. Along with the parable of the good Samaritan, it is also one that makes what Jesus teaches us about God clearest.

Because the parable as a whole is so familiar to us, I want to dwell on three moments to perhaps deepen our understanding a little.

First:

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. 

What did it mean back then to demand the inheritance?

Didn't the son effectively say to his father: Hey, old man, I can't wait any longer until you die, I want it now. And doesn't that mean that the son says to his father: You, your life, are worth nothing to me. You are just a means to an end, an obstacle on my way to getting the money. Mustn't the father have been deeply hurt by this?

According to Jewish, Old Testament law, the father could have rejected or even killed the son who came to him with such an attitude. 

But the father does not do that. He gives the son what he demands.

That alone is astonishing, outrageous. What a wimp! Some listeners might have thought. The son who comes to his father like that should be whipped so that he learns respect - and sent out into the fields to learn to work first.

But - the father lets the son have his way, shares his belongings.

The Greek word used here for 'assets', 'property' is bion - life, livelihood.

Imagine this: The father is a large farmer. Does he have half his wealth lying around in cash? Certainly not! There were hardly any banks. A farmer's wealth was in land and animals. In order to pay the son his inheritance, the father has to lease fields, sell animals, and take on debt. It wasn't easy - every lease, mortgage, and cattle sale sent a stab through the father's soul - and he had to think about how hard it would be to make up for this loss.

Father and the older brother must have had to work hard, for years, to even begin to make up for the damage that this son had caused them. No wonder the older brother doesn't speak well of the younger one!

And then - then the younger son goes to a foreign country, separates himself from the land that God gave to the people of Israel - and thus also from God. He then squanders this hard-earned, painfully given fortune in the most irresponsible, unlawful way.

When his fortune runs out and he ends up with the pigs - pigs are the epitome of impurity for the Jews - does he think of his father?

Yes, he does think of his father – but only insofar as his father could still be of use to him:

17  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! 

18  I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 

19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' 

The son continues to think only of himself. He continues to think only of wanting a full stomach and shelter. Again, he wants to use his father for himself, to meet his needs, to ease his distress.

I think, he has not yet realized how badly he has hurt his father, how serious his sin was.

And yet:

20  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. 

21  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.' 

22  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. 

23  And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 

24  for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. 

The father sees him from afar. That means, the father was constantly on the lookout: when will the son come back? He was always longing for the son to return. He was always scanning the horizon: when will he come?

And then he runs towards him.

A grown man of high status in the Middle East does not run. He walks with dignity - and everyone and everything can wait for him, because he has dignity, respect.

The fact that the father runs means that he throws away all convention, all 

dignity.

And then the father embraces the son. He embraces the son who has hurt

him so deeply. He embraces the one who has cost him so much. He embraces the one who has just come from the pigs and takes on his impurity.

This must have been extremely offensive to the listeners: What kind of picture of God is Jesus painting here?

A God who allows himself to be hurt, who does not punish the offences committed against him with the severity of the law! A God who leaves dignity and purity behind and gives himself up, humbles himself, gets involved with impure sinners who do not even really repent but continue to think only of themselves? What kind of God is that supposed to be!

This is exactly the God that Jesus brings us close to - and in Jesus God allows himself to be hurt, bears our impurity, our sin, comes to us, embraces us and restores us to full son-ship, as heirs!

What grace, what mercy!

The younger son has hurt the father so much!

He has really changed so little.

Nevertheless: The father forgives, embraces, takes us in.

That is what God is like - so merciful.

And us - you and me? Jesus tells this parable when the Pharisees complained about his association with 'sinners'.

Where are we - you and I - like the prodigal son, who only use God for our own purposes, but do not really see how deeply we hurt God?

Where are we - you and I - not ready to forgive like the Father, and to accept those whom we consider to be sinners?

May God grant us his Spirit, so that we truly come to him, and change our hearts, so that we gladly accept those to whom God is merciful.