Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 2, 2024

Date:   Saturday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Scripture Text:  Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So, to them Jesus addressed this parable.

"A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So, the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So, he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."

"So, he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice,because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel for today is Jesus’ familiar parable of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke. We need to take the parable in context; Jesus told the parable in response to criticism from the Scribes and Pharisees that He was spending time with sinners. And so, we can expect that it will involve a not only a sinner but also one who deems himself “perfect” in relationship with the loving and merciful father.

The first part of the parable details the younger son’s selfish decisions and how they led him ultimately to suffering. In his despair, he recognized his errors but also, he remembered the love and mercy of his father. And so, with genuine remorse, he turned back and began his journey back to life with the father. This part of the parable resonates with most of us who stumble, who choose poorly our paths, who turn away from the love of the LORD or one another recognize that spiritual urge to return to the LORD and to the LORD’s life giving and transformative love.

Then we have the reunion. The father didn’t wait on the porch for the son to arrive humbly and utter his apology and beg for forgiveness. The father, upon seeing the son, recognizing his “turning back” ran out to meet him and embraced him. The father’s response to the son’s return speaks to us of our Heavenly Father’s love for us and desire that we be with Him. It speaks of the Heavenly Father’s unfathomable mercy and of the rejoicing over one who returns.

Then we have the older son. And most of us must admit that our hearts go out to this son who didn’t appear to have strayed or erred. We can empathize with his anger at the profound generosity of the father extended to the selfish sinner, wondering why his goodness had not been rewarded by a party. Jesus’ point, well made in this closing part of the parable, was most probably wasted on the Scribes and Pharisees who, too, struggled with mercy shown to sinners. But that’s the point of the whole parable!

The father tells the older son, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.” We must sit with a moment and let it really sink in. Is not uninterrupted love and presence in our life when in relationship with our LORD worth more than a ring or a fatted calf? How much more can the father share with the son who remained than “everything I have”? Isn’t a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father reward enough? And wouldn’t such a relationship give rise to the desire for the Father to have his son who had strayed return?

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Have I been obstinate in my selfish desires to the detriment of my relationship with my LORD and with others? Have I humbly sought forgiveness and mercy? Am I jealous of the goodness that befalls others? Do I arrogantly place myself above others, ignoring my own imperfections and the LORD’s power and presence in my life that have sustained me?  

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, your desire for us to have life in abundance with You led You to send your only begotten Son to dwell among us and to reconcile us with You and to redeem us of our sins. We struggle often, LORD, because this love is so deep and so pure that it mystifies us. We beg your mercy for those times we have strayed and put ourselves above You and your love and your will for us. Send your Spirit to help us put our relationship with You above all here on earth, to love You with our whole being, and to love one another desiring that same relationship with You for all. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.

NOTE: painting of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt