You've heard it before. You know the story. But have you seen it through the filter of the Middle East?
The very idea is ludicrous. A son wishes his inheritance, having the audacity to go to the father and ask for that inheritance, is absurd. It is telling the father that you wish him dead. No son in his right mind would do it. No father in his right mind would grant it. Yet in the parable, both did.
That's what parables are all about. You start of with a premise that is so unthinkable that it's laughable. This gets the audience's attention. And then you proceed to your lesson.
Throughout, it's clear that this boy is foolish. He does the unthinkable, is given the impossible, and wastes no time in going to a far-off land and squandering the money. Notice that the father didn't send him off--he chose the path to take. The father stays home and the son makes stupid decision after stupid decision. Soon the money is gone and the son is in desperate straights. He goes so far as to ask a Gentile for work--absolutely unheard of among the Jews. The farmer, when asked, says that the only job he has available is caring for pigs. This wasn't a job offer. It was a polite way to tell the boy to go away. The farmer understood very well that the Jews consider pigs unclean. Offering the boy a job tending unclean animals was giving him an option that it was clear that he couldn't take advantage of. But he does--another marvel. More than that, the boy is starving and resorts to eating what even the pigs won't touch.
As the boy is living his miserable life, the parable goes on, he finally comes to his senses. Ever done that? Ever get into a mess that's so bad that you forget that there's a different way? Ask anyone who's been in an abusive relationship--they'll tell you that it gets to be so hopeless that unless a miracle happens and their eyes are opened, they will continue in the relationship until they are literally abused to death. But then one day, something happens--sometimes something as insignificant as reading the paper and seeing a story that could easily be your story--and you suddenly realize that of course there's a way out. And you take it. And you're saved. So it was with this young man. Could it be that he saw someone who wore clothing similar to that worn by his father's servants? Could it be that he looked at the slop that he was eating and realized that this would never happen in his home? Whatever the cause, he came back to himself and realized that a servant in his father's house lived better than this. Having realized that, he then makes the decision to go back and ask forgiveness. He knows, none better, that he has committed an unpardonable offense against his father and expects nothing but to be treated as a servant. But he hopes that his father will do at least that much for him.
He starts on the road home. Maybe he is willing to take whatever consequences lie ahead; maybe he isn't thinking clearly. But the father sees him from far off. Obviously, this means that the father has been looking for him. This is not coincidence. More, then father throws pride and self respect aside and runs to the son. This is important, for it's essential that the father reach the son before the community is aware of what's going on. The father has been treated by the son as if he were dead, and the community in turn now sees the son as dead. If the son dared show his face again, thought would become deed. To avoid that, the father sets custom and dignity aside and sprints to the son's side. He calls for a robe (remember Christ is our covering?), the family rings, and sandals to be brought. He then calls for the fatted calf to be slaughtered so that a celebration can begin, for he who was dead is now alive again!
When the elder son--the good son--smells the cooking, he very reasonably wants to know what's going on. He goes to the father, and the father explains. This makes the son furious. He has continued to tend the land while the son squanders his money on prostitutes (how did he know that?), and now his brother is to be celebrated while he, the good son, receives nothing? He makes it clear that it's unfair that he hasn't received so much as a kid so that he could celebrate with his friends.
You know, we're used to looking down our collective nose at the elder brother, but I agree with him in this. At first glance, it's totally unfair. He has remained faithful while little Skeezix goes away, lives it up, blows Daddy's money, and then comes back. What happens now? I'm not surprised that the father's actions seem crazy and biased to the elder son.
But the father doesn't chide. He simply asks the older son to celebrate with him--what was lost is found, he who was dead is now alive again.
We all are the elder son. We see others receive gifts while we have none (or none that we choose to think about at that moment), and it makes us mad. But we are also the prodigal. We wander away and live our own lives until that moment when we realize that life without our Father God is a life devoid of value. In those two, we see ourselves. In the father, though, we see the love of Christ and the mercy of God the Father. He has ransomed us from death--just as the father did the son by putting on the family robes--and he asks us to celebrate His Son in the gifts of life--the gifts of the Eucharist. Bless his holy name!
Showing posts with label parable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parable. Show all posts
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The church--a cautionary tale
Once upon a time there was a tiny little church. It was old and had obviously seen better days, as had the neighborhood. Not many people could get in at once-surely no more than 20 or so. The pastor was poor but honest, and his flock loved him. They were a motley assortment at best, but they all loved him.
Dwayne was one of the sheep, and he was the most vocal. He was old, loud, dirty, and proud of his evil past. He had come to the church years ago, and the pastor's easy manner and friendly disposition had persuaded him that it might be worth staying here. He found that the church was inviting--it didn't make fun of him or laugh at him. It didn't turn up its nose when he walked past--figuratively or literally. He was treated as a cherished brother, and Dwayne liked that. In fact, he started listening to the pastor's sermons (more homilies than sermons, really), and he found himself wanting to be a friend of the man that Pastor talked about.
Beauty was Dwayne's wife. She had been a streetwalker--she preferred that to tramp--but Dwayne had found her after he found the church. He took her to service, and she found welcome and acceptance there, just as Dwayne had. She wasn't made to feel ashamed, but she came to desire escape from her former life. Dwayne helped her leave the life, and the two of them had been helping others leave ever since. They didn't all care about the church or its God, but they were all grateful for the freedom that they had found, and they all were free to accept prayers--and even to ask for them. Dwayne and Beauty (whose real name, Betsy, was not nearly as pretty, in her opinion) felt sure that one day they would come to love the church, its pastor, and their God every bit as much as they did.
There were others, too. Sid was a drugged-out teen who had come to the church one night begging for a handout. Instead, he had been given a ride to a drive-in, a warm meal, and a place to sleep in the church's basement. Sid was offered help to kick his habit, and even though the help hadn't worked (yet), the sheep had high hopes. Deep in his heart, so did Sid. And like many others, Sid was attracted to the church and its God, if not yet convinced. Marianne and her partner Lianne were lesbians who came when Lianne found out that her mother had terminal cancer. Even though her parents refused to acknowledge their lifestyle, Lianne was worried and hurting. The church took both of them to its heart, and Lianne and Marianne were soon part of a prayer group. Some people were comfortable with the thought of gay people at church, others were confused, and still others were sure that the lifestyle was wrong, but none of them felt that dealing with that was as important as praying for a mother who was dying. They finally came to the conclusion that "Judge not lest you also be judged" was in the Bible for a reason. Others were just normal folk, mostly poor--like the neighborhood--but good people who loved God, loved the pastor, and loved the church.
One day a real estate developer came to town. He had been looking over the neighborhood, and he'd decided that the houses were too old and unsightly to be of any use to him. Some people rented--the landlords were happy to be rid of the nuisance. Others were happy to have a few dollars in their pocket and another house in a different part of town. They sold right away, at a profit. Some members of the church were in this crowd--they felt that God was blessing the neighborhood by bringing in new blood and giving others a chance to leave. The pastor wasn't so sure.
Soon, the neighborhood was quite different. The old houses were destroyed and new and fashionable condominiums took their place. The old neighbors were unable to afford to buy the sweet condos and soon left. The neighbors that stayed were happy, at least for a time. New neighbors came, too. They were different than the old ones, much different. They came into the little church and had a talk with the pastor. "We don't feel that the church paints the proper picture for this new community," they said. "We are willing to pay for an upgrade. You will have the most beautiful church in the city!" Once again, the pastor wasn't sure it was a good idea, but he didn't really have a voice in the decision. The vestry voted 12-0 to gratefully accept the new neighbor's building contribution, and the most wealthy and influential neighbor, Solomon, was voted into the vestry immediately. Nobody seemed to care that the number became 13.
Well, the little old church was torn down and a beautiful new building took its place. It drew the new neighbors to it like flies to garbage. The new neighbors were very aware of their social standing. They looked around at the original parishioners and did not like what they saw. They soon decided to take steps.
The first sacrificial lamb was Beauty. Edith, an accountant with a businessman husband and a high opinion of her life, came to her and hinted that she was a little--well--loud. Beauty, at first, took it in stride. She giggled and said, "I guess so. I'm not the mani-pedi and salon dye type. But at our church, you take us as we are. But the problem was that there were not that many original church members left. Edith and her friends made it a point to ignore Edith and her friends and keep her out of the loop. The pastor spoke to her about her attitude, but Edith pointedly mentioned that a pastor's salary is maintained by his parishioners, and he might want to keep his mouth shut. The pastor wasn't intimidated, but he was at a loss. He went to the chapel and began to devote time to prayer, seeking an answer to this question.
The answer came almost immediately. Solomon informed the pastor that he was not a good fit for the new church and its new congregation. They preferred "congregation" to "sheep". He was given a month's severance pay and told to find another church.
Soon after, Ed, a buff retired fireman who enjoyed positions of power, took both Dwayne and Sid in hand. Dwayne was told that the church would no longer support his going out and finding "those women". Dwayne got belligerent and profane, which Ed had secretly hoped would happen. He said that the vestry had assured him that they would not tolerate people who took the Lord's name in vain (let alone some of the other things he had said). He was kicked out of church on the spot. Sid was even easier. He came to church one day looking for the pastor. He had fallen off the wagon and needed help. He hadn't been around for awhile and knew nothing about the recent changes. Ed greeted him at the door with a big smile and hearty handshake. He then called 911 and told the police that there was a person in possession of illegal drugs at the church. The police soon showed up and escorted Sid off the premises. The poor kid was over 18, so he was given jail time. He blamed the whole thing on God, not Ed, and vowed never to set foot in another church.
Lianne and Marianne were next. The vestry invited them to their next meeting. They told them that the church had decided that it would not condone homosexuality inside its walls. The two were told that they must publicly acknowledge that they were deep in sin and promise never to practice homosexuality ever again. The alternative was to leave the church at once. Lianne asked, "Will you still at least keep my mother in your prayers?" "She isn't gay, too, is she?" Edith said with a sneer. The two women turned away without another word.
It has been seven years, and First Church of Suburbia is doing very well, thank you. There are prayer services, women's brunches, children's camp, choir and praise team, and many other services and ministries available for the discerning church goer. If you hadn't known the church before, you might not notice the spiritual emptiness hanging like cobwebs from every window and door.
You might ask, "What about the pastor and his sheep?" Not all have returned. Many neighbors moved and were lost to him, but some sought him out. He found a space in a small gym and has services there on Sundays and is saving his pennies so that he can one day move to a real church. He is thankful for every day, and sorry that his flock had to go through such trials. He visits Sid in prison, and Sid has asked to be baptized. Lianne and Marianne found the church as well, and so did Dwayne and his wife. They are active and happy, if not as naive as they once were. They believe that God is in control and that everything happens for a reason. They admit that they can't understand why this happened, but they aren't too worried. They're too busy living for God and rejoicing in his name.
Dwayne was one of the sheep, and he was the most vocal. He was old, loud, dirty, and proud of his evil past. He had come to the church years ago, and the pastor's easy manner and friendly disposition had persuaded him that it might be worth staying here. He found that the church was inviting--it didn't make fun of him or laugh at him. It didn't turn up its nose when he walked past--figuratively or literally. He was treated as a cherished brother, and Dwayne liked that. In fact, he started listening to the pastor's sermons (more homilies than sermons, really), and he found himself wanting to be a friend of the man that Pastor talked about.
Beauty was Dwayne's wife. She had been a streetwalker--she preferred that to tramp--but Dwayne had found her after he found the church. He took her to service, and she found welcome and acceptance there, just as Dwayne had. She wasn't made to feel ashamed, but she came to desire escape from her former life. Dwayne helped her leave the life, and the two of them had been helping others leave ever since. They didn't all care about the church or its God, but they were all grateful for the freedom that they had found, and they all were free to accept prayers--and even to ask for them. Dwayne and Beauty (whose real name, Betsy, was not nearly as pretty, in her opinion) felt sure that one day they would come to love the church, its pastor, and their God every bit as much as they did.
There were others, too. Sid was a drugged-out teen who had come to the church one night begging for a handout. Instead, he had been given a ride to a drive-in, a warm meal, and a place to sleep in the church's basement. Sid was offered help to kick his habit, and even though the help hadn't worked (yet), the sheep had high hopes. Deep in his heart, so did Sid. And like many others, Sid was attracted to the church and its God, if not yet convinced. Marianne and her partner Lianne were lesbians who came when Lianne found out that her mother had terminal cancer. Even though her parents refused to acknowledge their lifestyle, Lianne was worried and hurting. The church took both of them to its heart, and Lianne and Marianne were soon part of a prayer group. Some people were comfortable with the thought of gay people at church, others were confused, and still others were sure that the lifestyle was wrong, but none of them felt that dealing with that was as important as praying for a mother who was dying. They finally came to the conclusion that "Judge not lest you also be judged" was in the Bible for a reason. Others were just normal folk, mostly poor--like the neighborhood--but good people who loved God, loved the pastor, and loved the church.
One day a real estate developer came to town. He had been looking over the neighborhood, and he'd decided that the houses were too old and unsightly to be of any use to him. Some people rented--the landlords were happy to be rid of the nuisance. Others were happy to have a few dollars in their pocket and another house in a different part of town. They sold right away, at a profit. Some members of the church were in this crowd--they felt that God was blessing the neighborhood by bringing in new blood and giving others a chance to leave. The pastor wasn't so sure.
Soon, the neighborhood was quite different. The old houses were destroyed and new and fashionable condominiums took their place. The old neighbors were unable to afford to buy the sweet condos and soon left. The neighbors that stayed were happy, at least for a time. New neighbors came, too. They were different than the old ones, much different. They came into the little church and had a talk with the pastor. "We don't feel that the church paints the proper picture for this new community," they said. "We are willing to pay for an upgrade. You will have the most beautiful church in the city!" Once again, the pastor wasn't sure it was a good idea, but he didn't really have a voice in the decision. The vestry voted 12-0 to gratefully accept the new neighbor's building contribution, and the most wealthy and influential neighbor, Solomon, was voted into the vestry immediately. Nobody seemed to care that the number became 13.
Well, the little old church was torn down and a beautiful new building took its place. It drew the new neighbors to it like flies to garbage. The new neighbors were very aware of their social standing. They looked around at the original parishioners and did not like what they saw. They soon decided to take steps.
The first sacrificial lamb was Beauty. Edith, an accountant with a businessman husband and a high opinion of her life, came to her and hinted that she was a little--well--loud. Beauty, at first, took it in stride. She giggled and said, "I guess so. I'm not the mani-pedi and salon dye type. But at our church, you take us as we are. But the problem was that there were not that many original church members left. Edith and her friends made it a point to ignore Edith and her friends and keep her out of the loop. The pastor spoke to her about her attitude, but Edith pointedly mentioned that a pastor's salary is maintained by his parishioners, and he might want to keep his mouth shut. The pastor wasn't intimidated, but he was at a loss. He went to the chapel and began to devote time to prayer, seeking an answer to this question.
The answer came almost immediately. Solomon informed the pastor that he was not a good fit for the new church and its new congregation. They preferred "congregation" to "sheep". He was given a month's severance pay and told to find another church.
Soon after, Ed, a buff retired fireman who enjoyed positions of power, took both Dwayne and Sid in hand. Dwayne was told that the church would no longer support his going out and finding "those women". Dwayne got belligerent and profane, which Ed had secretly hoped would happen. He said that the vestry had assured him that they would not tolerate people who took the Lord's name in vain (let alone some of the other things he had said). He was kicked out of church on the spot. Sid was even easier. He came to church one day looking for the pastor. He had fallen off the wagon and needed help. He hadn't been around for awhile and knew nothing about the recent changes. Ed greeted him at the door with a big smile and hearty handshake. He then called 911 and told the police that there was a person in possession of illegal drugs at the church. The police soon showed up and escorted Sid off the premises. The poor kid was over 18, so he was given jail time. He blamed the whole thing on God, not Ed, and vowed never to set foot in another church.
Lianne and Marianne were next. The vestry invited them to their next meeting. They told them that the church had decided that it would not condone homosexuality inside its walls. The two were told that they must publicly acknowledge that they were deep in sin and promise never to practice homosexuality ever again. The alternative was to leave the church at once. Lianne asked, "Will you still at least keep my mother in your prayers?" "She isn't gay, too, is she?" Edith said with a sneer. The two women turned away without another word.
It has been seven years, and First Church of Suburbia is doing very well, thank you. There are prayer services, women's brunches, children's camp, choir and praise team, and many other services and ministries available for the discerning church goer. If you hadn't known the church before, you might not notice the spiritual emptiness hanging like cobwebs from every window and door.
You might ask, "What about the pastor and his sheep?" Not all have returned. Many neighbors moved and were lost to him, but some sought him out. He found a space in a small gym and has services there on Sundays and is saving his pennies so that he can one day move to a real church. He is thankful for every day, and sorry that his flock had to go through such trials. He visits Sid in prison, and Sid has asked to be baptized. Lianne and Marianne found the church as well, and so did Dwayne and his wife. They are active and happy, if not as naive as they once were. They believe that God is in control and that everything happens for a reason. They admit that they can't understand why this happened, but they aren't too worried. They're too busy living for God and rejoicing in his name.
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