"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you"
Luke 15: 1-32
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091122.cfm
One of the most popular shows on the PBS station was called "Antiques Road Show." Although it may be simply reruns by this time, it remains entertaining. Folks from all over the country bring all sorts of items, preferably those of "antique" quality (at least 100 years old), in order to have them appraised. Everything from artwork, sculpture, tapestries, clothing, documents, and books, along with a host of other items, shows up. Everyone dreams that maybe their item will bear good news and be appraised for some great value. What they bought at a yard sale for a few dollars may wind up being of far greater worth than they ever imagined. Everyone hopes to find that great treasure.
Our Gospel this Sunday is the fifteenth chapter of Luke.
It is rare that an entire chapter of any of the Evangelists would be quoted as
the Sunday reading. Yet, this unique and
beautiful writing is priceless. It reveals a fundamental truth of God's nature
– his never-ending search for the lost and his overwhelming mercy. In three very beautiful parables, the last
one of the prodigal son, Jesus speaks to a skeptical crowd of both those
learned in the law (Scribes and Pharisees) and a mixed bag of tax collectors
and sinners.
A lost coin, a wandering sheep and an ungrateful son - an
object, an animal, and a human being - all provide a fundamental lesson of who
God is and of what he thinks of us; particularly how he views us when we are
lost or wander away and squander the grace he offers to us. I can only imagine
how the crowd around Jesus reacted as part of them hung on his every word and
drew near to him while the other part held back offering only a critical eye, a
raised eyebrow.
In the end the two parables which open the chapter remind
us that in the eyes and heart of God, every human tiny insignificant detail, no
matter how ordinary or in what condition, is of priceless value. Far more than anything that might be valued
of costly antique quality.
The lost sheep and the coin provide a symbolic image of
ourselves. Sheep are notoriously not the brightest of animals. They follow the herd and the voice of their
shepherd with seemingly no forethought for their own safety. This one sheep which Jesus refers to, had
strayed away from the safety of the group.
Perhaps it was injured, overly curious or the like. Yet, he had wandered into danger, so the
shepherd went in search. Leaving the
other 99 in harm’s way more or less, he considers this one valuable enough to
rescue it - a good shepherd indeed but so motivated by his extravagant care yet
once found, he rejoices.
The coin was just a coin.
Perhaps it fell out of a bag or the owner's pocket or more likely was
part of the dress common to women who wore them around their heads. Nonetheless, the woman diligently searches
and when finding it, she invites her friends and neighbors to a party for
celebration. That was some coin! Either that or the town folk considered her a
bit nuts to get so excited over one coin while she still had nine more.
Then, something of priceless value is introduced in a
similar context. The son of a father
whose ingratitude is shocking by requesting his inheritance before his father's
death, insults his father and thereby wished him dead, wanders away from his father's house and lives a life in shame and self-indulgence, wasting all he
was given, eating pig food, in desperation he decides to go back not knowing
what kind of reception he will receive.
Like the shepherd who rejoiced and the woman who threw a
party, this father behaves far more like a loving Jewish mother than a father
of that culture. He embraces, kisses,
and calls for a town party to celebrate the new life his son has found. Such
irrational and counter cultural behavior on the part of the father in our three
parables is over the top of what we might expect.
But these are images of what God is like. Jesus reminds those in his audience, as he
points especially to the sinners in a bold manner, that they are being invited
back to their Father's house. God loves them so much that he will rejoice along
with the angels in heaven if only one of them turn back to his all-embracing
arms. We well know that we are among the sheep who wanders the misplaced coin
and certainly we find ourselves given to selfishness and rebellion before the
God who has given us more than we deserve.
If we could just wrap our heads around that. God is searching for me even when I stray
farthest away from him. That's how much you are valued in the eyes of God.
That's how God views our sin and hopes we will turn back from it. We will be welcomed not with condemnation but
with grace. When we celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation the worst that
could happen is that your sin will be forgiven.
A very important element, however, that we cannot ignore
is that the father never went in search of his son. Rather, he waited, patiently with love,
hoping that the son would come to his senses, realizes his offense, take
responsibility for it, and then return of his own free will repentant and ready
to begin a new life. The son hoped that,
at the very least, his father would feed him.
God calls us all to conversion, he respects our free
will, and though he desires all to come home he respects the free will he has
given us. We must love him freely and be
open to his grace, his gift of mercy. God
awaits us not with punishment but with mercy. But we need to freely make that
choice. Like the wayward son, to come to our senses and take responsibility to
receive God’s extravagant forgiveness.
We are given grace not because we deserve it or because
we have some kind of special favor from God above others. But because God's nature is to be love itself. He will relentlessly invite us whether we
like it or not. "Come back. Come home." He calls to us each day. Jesus, his own Son, is the fleshly proof of
that.
Our gathering for Eucharist and who we receive is given
not because of our good behavior but because of God's overflowing love for
us. This sacred food for the journey,
Christ himself, provides that grace and strength that even if we do wander a distance,
miss the mark through our sin, we will never forget where our true home lies.
Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation, the Joy of the
Gospel, beautifully puts it this way:
"Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to
realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms . . . How good
it feels to come back to him, whenever we are lost!" (EG 3).
Think of this the next time you feel unappreciated,
unloved, taken advantage of, or so far gone and sinful that God is simply too
busy with the good people to care.
That's not thinking as God thinks.
Look upon us, O God,
Creator and ruler of all things,
and, that we may feel the working of your mercy,
grant that we may serve you with all our heart.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
(Collect of Mass)
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