“I shall arise, and go unto my father....” Luke 15:18
most of us are familiar with the story of the prodigal son
of that wild and crazy
hippie in San Francisco
in the 60's kind of wild child
who one day woke up and said
"oh shit!"
but the story of the prodigal son is full of prodigals
think about the older brother
who also, in a real way
has destroyed his connection with the father
oh he has been good
so good
but his sphincter is tight enough to crush a penny
and he is angry and resentful
and thinks the father "owes" him
wild child stands at a distance
afraid he doesn't deserve a second chance
full of guilt and shame
angry child
stands close, manipulating
working
scheming
thinking he can somehow obligate the father
both are separated from the father
one slops pigs
the other doesn't know how to smile
the father
the biggest prodigal of all
loves both these sons
deeply, radically, scandalously
This amazing parent reaches out in love
arms wide open
who will respond?
What is keeping us from coming to God with joy?
Prodigal children all
Guilt? Shame? Resentment.
Anger?
It is time to let go of whatever it is
and join the party!
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A disclaimer
There are prodigal daughters as well as prodigal sons
And God can easily be seen as a prodigal mother
I am not a big fan of anthropomorphizing the Sacred
But sometimes these stories work!
This is simply a story that reminds us of our acceptance by
the sacred
And our need to accept our acceptance
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