Sermon

Date: 14/02/2010 Theme: God has promised forgiveness to the penitent Scripture Reading: Luke 15: 1-2, 11-32 Context/Background of the text Luke just recorded that Jesus called a would-be disciple to pay attention to what He said (14:35). Now he noted that many tax collectors and "sinners" were doing precisely that. Thus he presented that group of needy spiritual outcasts as responding to Jesus' ministry. However, he also noted, in contrast, that the Pharisees and scribes were critical of Jesus (cf. 5:29-30). They were not really listening to Him. Probably he balanced two positive groups (tax gatherers and sinners) with two negative groups (Pharisees and lawyers) to heighten the contrast further. Jesus told this parable in response to the grumbling of Pharisees and scribes. The elder son is, of course, a Pharisee or a scribe. It seems that, in the excitement, the father had not dispatched anyone to tell the older son of the younger son's return. The elder son's first clue to the party was the sound of music and dancing. It must have been a lonely feeling to come from the quiet solitude of the fields at sunset, tired and dirty, to hear music and dancing. Then the slave delivered the news. The dishonorable son had returned, and the party was in honor of the dishonorable. No wonder the elder son was angry! However, the elder son�s refusal to join a party at which the father is host dishonors his father, just as the younger son dishonored the father by his premature request for a share of the property. The plot is characterized by distance and physical separation signifies alienation. His father came out and began to plead with him. The father is as full of grace for his disobedient elder son as he was for his disobedient younger son. He comes out to reconcile with the elder son just as he had with the younger. The difference is that the younger son was open to his father, but the elder son had hardened his heart. This is a poignant moment. The father's joy is shattered. He was celebrating having his whole family under one roof again only to find the elder son still outside. He was celebrating the end of brokenness only to find the family broken in another place. �The generosity lavished on the son who was lost outside the household is now extended also to the son who is lost within the household�. The younger son is indeed the �brother� corresponds well, in reality in part with the Pharisee refusal to acknowledge outcaste as brother. Father said we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found. How can one not celebrate the resurrection of a loved one? In chapter fifteen Luke has joined together three parables. More strikingly, the parables are joined together by common literary refrain, �What is lost is now found�. The testimony to the lost and found is the unifying factor among these parables. This parable highlights the inclusive ministry of Christ in opposition to the idea if exclusive ministry of Christ exemplified by the Pharisees. The younger son represents the Publicans and the sinners, and the elder brother represents self righteous Pharisees. This can be seen in the parable itself. It is the elder brother who is a Pharisee, and the object of telling this part of the story is to encourage the Pharisees to come in and share Jesus, joy in reaching out and finding out the lost of whatever class or category. Pharisees were showing themselves to be in the place of God like the dishonest brother in V.28, excluding them for the realms of the blessed in the life to come. Key Verse Vs.29: �But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends�. This verse forms the focus of the parable. The elder son answered his father, �Listen! For all these�..�.�We discover through the dialogue that this son, too, has been alienated from his father, perhaps for an even longer time. He has slaved for his father for years but he has never felt rewarded�. He has done everything possible to earn the father's love, but could never allow himself to believe in the father's love. Sermon directions The parable of the Prodigal son has an immense implication in today�s world. The swiftness of the life has amplified to an enormous degree; each person runs here and there to build his/her life in a successful manner. There is an invariable disorder in ones heart, to aim elevated. Very seldom we are satisfied with what we have, instead of cherishing and enjoying it we plan to go ahead for something higher. This was the same problem with the younger son, as he was not pleased with his life he planned to go ahead with his share of money. Our lust and desires bring our downfall as was the case with the younger son. Our desires and wants can be in varied forms in today�s form i.e. for money, power, jealousy, when a child gets hurt, he is reminded of his mothers lap, but when he gets attention from his mother he again goes back. The point that I want to signify here is that the child can come back any time, the mother will accept his child every time. God also has this quality in a spiritual sense; more far we go from him/her God is always ready to accept us. When we run after material thing we employ means that alienate us from God. But there is a room given for us to come back to God through repentance. When we come back to the lord there is a sense of refreshment and it is accompanied by rejoicing. The response of the elder son is also very stimulating. Often people those who are at prominent spaces are a bit annoyed with the coming up of a new character. What the response of the elder son teaches us is that one should accept changes. The kingdom of Jesus will help us to see the realities around us. Acceptance for all should be the aim of Christian life. Prayer Points. Let us not be an agent trough whom alienation of another life is brought about. Let us have right attitude towards life and prosperity. Help us Lord to be Forgiving towards all.