HOMILY FOR 24th SUNDAY IN OT—C (V1)

TODAY’S GOSPEL PRESENTS THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN OF ALL JESUS’ PARABLES.  BUT WHO IS THIS STORY REALLY ABOUT AND WHAT IS JESUS REALLY TELLING US.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THE SON PLAYS A LARGE ROLE IN THE STORY AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE SON HAS WHAT WE WOULD CALL NOW BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS.  WHEN THE SON ASKS FOR THE INHERITANCE RIGHT THEN AND THERE, HE IS BASICALLY SAYING THIS: DEAR DAD: YOU’RE NOT DYING QUICK ENOUGH TO SUIT MY PLANS.  EITHER DIE OR GIVE ME MY MONEY NOW.  SO THE SON WANTS TO HAVE HIS CAKE NOW AND EAT IT NOW.   THE OLD FELLOW IS JUST NOT COOPERATING BY GOING TO THE GRAVE IN A TIMELY MANNER.  BUT EVEN IN THE FACE OF THAT DIRECT AND DEVESTATING INSULT, THE FATHER STILL GIVES THE SON WHAT HE WANTS.

OFF HE GOES TO COMPOUND HIS ARROGANCE.  NOT ONLY DOES HE LEAVE THE FATHER, WE CAN SEE BY THE FACT THAT HE ENDS UP TAKING CARE OF PIGS, A FORBIDDEN ANIMAL FOR JEWS, THAT HE LEAVES THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND HAS ENTERED THE PAGAN WORLD.

HE DOES REPENT AND RETURN.  SO IT IS A STORY OF A PROGIDGAL SON.  BUT IS THE SON THE MAIN CHARACTER?  MAYBE NOT.

THIS IS ALSO A STORY OF A LOVING FATHER AND SOME SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS BELIEVE THE PARABLE SHOULD BE CALLED THE PARABLE OF THE LOVING FATHER.  THE FATHER GIVES THE SON THE INHERITANCE IN THE FACE OF A DIRECT AND BRUTAL INSULT AND THEN NOT ONLY WELCOMES HIM BACK WITH OPEN ARMS BUT ACTIVELY GOES LOOKING FOR HIM.   REMEMBER THE FATHER SAW HIM COMING FROM A LONG WAY OFF, RAN OUT TO GREET HIM, EMBRACED HIM AND KISSED HIM.  THE FATHER, OF COURSE, REPRESENTS GOD AND HIS ACTIVE LONGING LOVE FOR US EVEN WHEN WE HAVE SINNED.  SO THIS PARABLE COULD BE CALLED THE PARABLE OF THE LOVING FATHER.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER CHARACTER IN THE STORY, THE OLDER BROTHER WHO IS UPSET THAT THE YOUNGER SON HAS BEEN WELCOMED BACK WITH GREAT FESTIVITIES WHILE HE, WHO HAD BEEN FAITHFUL AND FOLLOWED THE FATHER’S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER, WAS IGNORED.  HE SEEMS SUCH A MINOR CHARACTER BUT HE IS REALLY AT THE HEART OF THE STORY.  WE COULD PROPERLY CALL THIS PARABLE THE PARABLE OF THE BROTHER WHO JUST DIDN’T GET IT.

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THIS PARABLE, WE HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WAS GOING IN.  AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL WE SEE THAT JESUS IS TALKING TO TAX COLLECTORS AND OTHER SINNERS, TALKING TO THOSE DID NOT FOLLOW THE DETAILS OF THE LAW.  TO THE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES THAT MEANT THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS, CERTAINLY NOT WELCOMED AND CERTAINLY NOT SEEN AS WORTHY OF INTEREST.