Mar. 14, 2010 Lk. 15: 1-32
Connie May © 2/23/10
Drawing with permission by Fr. Robert Beck
Link to additional Beck (Choose this week’s column)
Stone, Naomi. The Mystery of Love
Rolheiser, Fr. Ron. A Prodigal God
Additional Resources
ENTERING THE SCENE:
Lost and found. The theme of today’s reading. Jesus presents us with a image of God that refuses to let anyone or anything go without endless offers of restoration. When we too “come to our senses” we realize that life in one long progression of offers of unconditional love. We must reject all those images of God that are smaller than this one if we are to accept Jesus’ understanding of God. Like the people in this parable, he wants everyone to “rejoice with me” that the one who thought they were lost, were never truly lost to God, only lost in their too small understanding of God.
LK 15:1-32
1. The tax collectors and the sinners were all gathering around Jesus to hear him, 2. at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then he addressed this parable to them: 4 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
“11 A man had two sons. [12] The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ So the father divided up the property.13 Some days later this younger son collected all his belongings and went off to a distant land, where he squandered his money on dissolute living.
14 After he had spent everything a great famine broke out in that country and he was in dire need.15 So he attached himself to one of the propertied class of the place, who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs.16 He longed to fill his belly with the husks that were fodder for the pigs, but no one made a move to give him anything.17 Coming to his senses at last, he said: ‘How many hired hands at my father’s place have more than enough to eat, while here I am starving!18 I will break away and return to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you;19 I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me like one of your hired hands.“‘20 With that he set off for his father’s house. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was deeply moved. He ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 22 The father said to his servants: ‘Quick! bring out the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. 23 Take the fatted calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate24 because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.’ Then the celebrations began.
25 “Meanwhile the elder son was out on the land. As he neared the house on his way home, he heard the sound of music and dancing.26 He called one of the servants and asked him the reason for the dancing and the music.27 The servant answered, “Your brother is home, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has him back in good health.’ 28 The son grew angry at this and would not go in; but his father came out and began to plead with him. 29 “He said in reply to his father: ‘For years now I have slaved for you. I never disobeyed one of your orders, yet you never gave me so much as a kid goat to celebrate with my friends. 30 Then, when this son of yours returns after having gone through your property with loose women, you kill the fatted calf for him.’
31 “‘My son,’ replied the father, ‘you are with me always, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice! This brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost, and is found.’”
DISCUSSION QUESTION: Jesus teaches that God will stop at nothing to find anyone that is lost. Does this reassure you or distress you?
PRAYER: And so / by every fire and shore, / in market place and on hillside, / with the children of the street / and the masters of the law / Jesus told stories of God / which were really stories of people / …who were searching with the eyes of God / like a housewife atwit, / her money somewhere but where, / scouring the house with a candle when / suddenly / the coin leaps from its hiding place / into her eye. / or who were laughing with the mouth of God / like shepherds, / their beards dripping beer, / retelling the story of the lost lamb / suddenly / found and slung / over the returning shoulders of joy. Lord, please give me a loving heart that can rejoice with God when someone who was lost is found. Amen. Shea, John. Stories of Faith. Chicago. Thomas More Press. 1980, Page 203-4.