September 12, 2004
Exodus 32:7-14 + 1 Timothy 1:12-17 + Luke 15:1-32
Another lesson in the ways of discipleship as Jesus walks to Jerusalemcomes in a story all too familiar.It provides another of the qualities of discipleship,but it is easily missed by a people who are more interestedin the one who runs away than in the those who stay home.The is not about the children.It is about the parent.Luke would have us understand thisby quickly adding the two parables that follow the long one.Left to ourselves we might like to think that this long story is about us;finding a welcome,receiving unconditional forgiveness,coming to our senses,knowing where our true home is to be found.But, it is not about any of that.At least not until we have explored entirely the people who stay home.In that sense, it is about us,about you and me who have not run away, who are not big sinners,who have not yet squandered our inheritanceeven though we may take risks with it now and then.
For people who want to be disciples of Jesus, the virtue, or quality of discipleship is found in the Father of this first storymade all the more obvious by the behavior and attitude of the older son.Yet this parable always tempts us to comfort ourselvesrather than challenge ourselves.We want it to be about forgiveness receivedrather than hear it as a lesson in forgiven;but there is no way around the placement of this story on the road to Jerusalem.It is about disciples and how they are to behave, what they ought to feel,and how they should treat one another.
The disciple of Jesus Christ waits for and anxiously anticipates the opportunity to forgive. There is no hint of blame nor thought of punishment.There is only a burning desire to restore what is lost,to heal what is broken,and to RUN, not walk toward anyone who has turned toward us.That father never gave up his hope nor his desire to have his children together.That father never said those deadly words:”He’ll never change.” or, “That’s just the way he is.”
Those words betray an attitude of judgement that freezes out the other,
and they justify giving up hope, when there is no reason to do so.
The heart hardened by such judgements is not the heart of a disciple of Jesus.
Stubbornness, anger, self-righteousness, and arrogance in the face of human weakness are not qualities of disciples of Jesus making their way to Jerusalem.
Those disciples will always be on the lookout, and always be vigilant for every opportunity to extend the mercy of God and the embrace of God
not just to the deserving, but also to those who some would think will never change, never be worthy, nor ever find their way home.
As disciples of Jesus we must be reconcilers as much as reconciled.
All three parables today focus on celebration
and that celebration is why we are here.
Yet it rarely looks and feels much like such a celebration
because we are still too good at pointing the finger of blame
and fail to open our arms in embrace.
This noble virtue of mercy is out of our reach if it is only found in God.
The call to discipleship is a call to mercy, forgiveness, peace;
but it is not a call to accept them nearly as much as it is a vocation to give them.
When that happens on this earth, the party will have begun.