Thursday 12 April 2007

Today we move into the third parable that follows this scene in Luke's gospel:
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-2)

Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country and there squandered his property in dissolute living. (Luke 15:11-13

By this time in the parable, the crowds would be booing. The younger son - rather than live with his father in the home that is his and share that life with his brother - asks for what "will" belong to him. That means - when you are dead and gone - give me that share now. Some people who know much more about social customs in the ancient and modern middle east do a wonderful job of setting up what a situation this really is. One point that is so dramatic is that this is not simply a family matter. In a village, everyone would know about this. In fact one person notes that the property was stuff - animals and the like. All that had to be sold...and in a hurry...therefore at a lesser price....so that the younger one could go!. What caught my attention in this read through was the simple note that the father - without comment or direction or question - divided the property between them. He gave the younger his...and...he gave the older son his because really all that was now left was to be the older sons. The father is left with nothing...nothing material. What the father has is two sons. Even here he has two sons. We are never told that the father disowned the younger one. The villagers were probably disgusted with the young man. The older son was more than likely fit to be tied. But the father still had two sons. Love that will let go and not know where things will go or not have any control....wow!

Connection: Sometimes at great cost we must let go and love as though we are giving a gift even when we do not know what will come of it and we cannot see beyond the moment at hand.

Loving Lord, within the great embrace of your love, you are willing to let us go and give us all things and then and forever....love us. It sounds absurd...but it is you and we can't quite put our arms around that...but you put your arms around us and that is finally enough. Praise be to you. Amen.