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:
“
What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and
loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open and go looking
for the lost one until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and
neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that
was lost!’
 |
| Tissot |
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.
 |
| Tissot |
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 ever
ything
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.
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| Fritz Eichenberg, The Prodigal Son, wood engraving |
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].’
 |
| Rembrandt |
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.’
2nd
August Trinity
August
4, 2019
Luke
15: 1-32
When
seeds are ripe, they fall to the ground and disappear. If the mother plant were
sentient, she could feel this moment as a loss. The potential for new life has
disappeared from her; but only apparently. For at the right season, those seeds
will indeed sprout and grow and blossom.
Today’s
gospel reading tells the story of humankind as a whole. At
first, we were at
home, close to God, our Father. But at a certain point, we broke away, took our
gifts, and went out to explore and enjoy the world. And at first, came the joy
and excitement. But eventually, we found ourselves, like the seeds buried in
the ground, feeling nigh unto death. But whereas seeds are programmed to grow
and rise, human beings need to make a choice. The lost son notices his own
condition. As it says, “he came to himself.” And now he has the choice: he can
continue crawling toward death, or he can overcome his pride, and his
humiliation, seek out his Father, apologize for the waste and start over at a
lower level.
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| John Macallan Swan - The Prodigal Son 1888 |
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| Kathryn Doneghan |
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 discerned and taken responsibility for his own misdeeds. Under those
circumstances, the Father does not need to judge or punish. He is a being of
Love, whose greatest joy is to see us face to face. He has let 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 anyway aware of all our straying from Him, all our pretending that He
doesn’t exist, all of our weaknesses.
Therefore
here in this Act of Consecration, we are bringing You, O Father, the best we
have to offer – ourselves. May You and Your angels rejoice at this celebratory
feast. May we grow and blossom with new life.
