3rd August Trinity
Luke 15:1-32
Now many customs officials, despised by the people,
who called them sinners and expelled them from their community, sought to be
close to Jesus. They wanted to listen to him. The Pharisees and teachers of the
law however were upset by this and said, “This man accepts sinners and eats
with them!”
So he told them this parable:
I tell you, there will be more joy in the heavens
over one human being, living in denial of the spirit, who changes his mind,
than over the ninety-nine righteous who think they have no need of repentance.
Or which woman, if she has ten silver coins and
loses one, does not light a lamp, sweep the whole house and search carefully
until she finds it? And when she has found it she calls together her friends
and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had
lost!’
In the same way, I tell you, there will be joy among
the angels in the world of spirit over one human being living in denial of the
spirit who manages to change his heart and mind. “
And he said further: “A certain man had two sons.
The younger of them said
to his father, ‘Give me the share of the estate which
falls to me.’ And he divided his wealth
between them. And not many days later the younger son gathered everything
together and went on a journey to a far country and squandered his estate in
the enjoyment of loose living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine
came over the land, and he began to be in need. So he went and attached himself
to a citizen of the country who sent him out into his fields and let him herd
swine. And he longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were
eating, but no one gave him anything.
Then he came to himself, and said, ‘How many of my
father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here of hunger.
I will rise up and go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
the higher world and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
Make me one of your hired men [workers].’
So he rose up and traveled along the road to his
father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him, felt his misery, ran
toward him, embraced him and kissed him. And yet the son said, ‘Father, I have
sinned against the higher world and against you. I am no longer worthy to be
called your son. Make me one of your hired men [workers].’
But the father called his servant to him. ‘Quickly!
Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on
his feet, and slaughter the fattened calf. Then we shall eat and be merry. For
this my son was dead and is risen to life. He was lost and is found again.’ And
they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile the older son was in the field. When he
returned home and came near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants to him and asked him what it meant. He gave him
the news: ‘Your brother has come home again. So in joy your father has
slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back again safe and sound.’
The son grew dark with anger and didn’t want to go
in. But his father came out and pleaded with him. He however reproached his
father saying, ‘Look! For so many years I have been with you and have never
neglected one of your commands. But you never gave me so much as a goat that I
might be merry with my friends. And now comes this son of yours who has eaten
up your wealth in scandal, and you offer him the fattened calf.’
The father however said to him ‘Child, you are
always with me and all that I have belongs to you too. But now we should be
glad and rejoice, for this your brother was dead and lives; he was lost and has
been found again.’
3rd Sunday August Trinity
Luke 15: 11-32
When seeds are ripe, they fall to
the ground and disappear. From the point of view of the mother plant, this could
momentarily be seen as a loss. The potential for new life has disappeared; but
only apparently. For at the right season, those seeds will indeed sprout and
grow and blossom.
Frostad |
What Christ wants to tell us with
this story is the amazing fact that the Father does not judge. The older
brother tries to, but the Father receives His lost son with nothing but joy and
forgiveness. The younger son has judged himself. He has taken responsibility
for his own misdeeds. Under those circumstances, the Father has no need to judge
or punish. He is a being of Love, whose greatest joy is to see us face to face.
He lets us go from Him in the hope that we will one day find our way back to
Him, stronger for our experiences. He rejoices in our coming back to Him
because we choose to, since He is aware of all our straying from Him, all our
pretending that He doesn’t exist, all of our weaknesses, anyway.
Therefore we are bringing You, O
Father the best we have to offer – ourselves. May You and Your angels rejoice
at this celebratory feast.
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