The Prodigal Son
The Prodigal Son
by Jerry Fuller, OMI

Luke 15: 1-32

What sort of shepherd would leave behind the whole flock to go after just one? Doesn't that sound a little irresponsible, a bit neglectful of the ninety-nine? Can any single sheep be worth so much to the shepherd that he would risk the safety of the others? Can any one of us be worth that much to God, the True Pastor?

Fiona Powell, a professional storyteller in Pennsylvania who happens to have worked for a time as a shepherd in the West Country of England says, Yes, shepherds do really act that way. Then she tells this story.

Jesus tells three stories in today's gospel. One is about the lost sheep found, another is about a woman who finds a coin she has lost, and the last is about the prodigal son. From the story of the lost shepherd we can gather that, to God, we are, in the words of the unflappable shepherd, Robert, a "very valuable animal." So valuable, in fact, that Jesus came down to die for us "bloat" sheep.

The lost coin story tells us how important the poor woman who lost the coin feels. Although it is night, and she has to get a lamp to look for it, when she finds it she calls in the neighbors and throws a celebration. In fact, she probably spent more on that celebration than the coin was worth. In fact, all three stories end in a celebration. This highlights how joy-filled God is when we sinners come back to him and are saved.

We've always been mostly fascinated by the Prodigal Son story, though, and the almost impossible love of this almost impossible father and runs down the road to greet the prodigal son. What a father. No rancor at all in his soul. Only concern and love for the ungrateful son who was forced to return because he had been reduced to eating with the pigs, an unheard of penalty for an Israelite.

The brothers in the Prodigal Son parable may be seen as a modern parable of two kinds of justice. The older son works out of a model of private justice. He believes that we should work for what we get, and we should get what we deserve. He is not unkind, merely fair. He would no doubt give his little brother food stamps - but he damn well better not spend them on beer! The younger son thinks in terms of social justice. He thinks that his need has priority over his brother's right. He admits to being shiftless, but he does not think that he has to live on bread alone.

We have to understand that forgiveness is not a static act but a journey. We actually move from here to there - someone acts and we react. There is a real human encounter - someone leaves home and comes back. Otherwise, forgiveness is merely a head trip: We keep going back and forth thinking, "I am not worthy, she will not forgive, I am bad, he is good, I am not sorry enough, she does or doesn't understand." On and on.

To forgive is not to say that nothing happened, or that it doesn't matter. Who am I to say that your actions don't mean anything? Who are you to tell me that I did as well as I could? Forgiveness foregoes judgment. It does not change the past or control the future - it is a present grace.

Forgiveness is a gift of grace, not our possession: We merely pass it on from God. Unfortunately, there are few things harder for us than to accept something for nothing with grace - and to pass it on freely. [iii] Jesus' parables leave us dizzy. The Good Samaritan parable convicts us, as the fundamentalists would say. We know we don't act like the Good Samaritan. Are we supposed to? The Prodigal Son parable boggles our mind. Are we to forgive like this loving father? Get real. But Jesus fixes us with gentle and understanding eyes, nods his head and says, "Yes."

References:

[i] Arthur Olsen, "The Searchers," Markings, Readings - 132, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, (The Thomas More Association, 205 West Monroe St. -- Sixth Floor, Chicago IL 60606-5097) Sept. 2001.
[ii] Based on a story by Janet Mason in Guideposts as summarized in Connections, 24 Sunday of the year, (MediaWorks, 7 Lantern Lane, Londonderry, N.H. 03053-3905) Sept. 2001.
[iii] Fr. James Smith, "The gift of forgiveness," Celebration 30 (9): 411 (Celebration, 115 East Armour Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64111-1203) Sept. 2001.

(Comments to Jerry at padre@tri-lakes.net. Jerry's book, Stories For All Seasons, is available at a discount through the Homiletic Resource Center.)