So, I played with some words. What comes to your mind when I say these words?
Reckless. Blow. Foolish. Throw Away.
Wasteful. Lose. Splurge. Consume.
Misspend. Deplete. Misuse. Exhaust.
Carelessly. And, drain. All of these words in “one way” or “another” relate to the word “prodigal.”
If you want to know what a “prodigal” son is…he is the one who spends extravagantly without a purpose, he is a spend-thrift, and generous to a fault, in a negative sense.
Nothing is said or stated about the “morality of the story” as told by Jesus. The older of the two boys will attempt “to go there”…but it is quickly rerouted.
The younger son has been said – not to be BAD, but STUPID. He is foolish. He is not very wise. Stupid is as stupid does!
The younger son might have been able to get by with making this colossal mistake – had not an “economic depression occurred…” Perhaps it was the hand of God his father would later muse to himself! A “powerful famine” afflicted the country and the young man began to be “in want.” Desperate want.
Apparently, he was so hungry that even the pods fed to the pigs were looking pretty good and yummy to him.
He was isolated. He was alone. He was lonely and probably a wee bit scared.
Just for the record. It was the Jews who freely gave to the “poor” and to the “resident aliens.” About ten percent of every crop was left for the hungry and the homeless. That was the Jews.
The prodigal was no longer in Jewish territory, as evidenced by the herds of swine. Apparently he was in Gentile lands…and the Greeks and the Romans did not worry about the poor and the needy in their lands. It was every man for his self.
To paraphrase Dorothy in the old “Wizard of Oz,” the hungry younger son, may have well thought to himself, “Toto, I do not think we are in Israel anymore.” Here no one here cares. No one here is the least bit concerned. Meanwhile, look at me, I am wasting away!
Perhaps that was “the moment,” when he came to his senses. Talk about your “moments of practicality”…his dad’s hired hands “eat,” while he does not. It was just that simple.
So, he concocts his “spiel.” He thinks it through. He knows what he will say. He will give it a shot. He humbles himself. He will say he is sorry. He will be contrite. He was dumb. He is a kid. Kids do dumb things. Sorry, dad!
He knows not how his dad will react. It is a gamble. But it is a gamble he is more than willing to take.
We are talking life and death, here.
It was indeed a good sign when his father watching for him on the ridge overlooking their city and village…which is followed quickly by a “rush of verbs:”
Moved. Compassion. Runs. Fell on his son’s neck… Kissed him…
Out of a sense of compassion, the father surrenders his dignity, forgives and lavishes his younger son with the expressions of acceptance and love.
The “best” robe, the sandals, the ring, followed by a great banquet are all signs of acceptance and son-ship… He is family. Family trumps everything. Or, at least did at one time! I am not sure if it does so today!
The father will have to endure the side long looks of the entire community once they understand that the foolish, wayward son has returned. They will all be invited to that party. They will all be talking. They will have to make nice. They will have to smile and be accommodating.
The young son is lucky to be alive they say. If he did not die in a foreign land, his father had every right to put his wayward son to death here- at home. He did not. He forgave. He accepted. He rejoiced. He lavished. He ran to him, he hugged him.
This is the image of our God. This is the “Imago Dei.”
God is more than willing to give up his own dignity for each of us. We are worth it. We belong to him. He loves us in ways that we will never fully understand. His grace is more than sufficient. His mercy is beyond our words. His gracious love is over whelming…
Two very powerful emotions are expressed in the story. The father with his compassion and the older of the two sons with his righteous indignation…
It is the older son who is like the scribes and the Pharisees…the older brother whines and murmurs and further humiliates the father.
But the father will have none of it. He is compassionate to both his sons. He loves them both. They are as different as night and day. But they are his. And he will sleep well tonight knowing they
are both united with him again.
Amen!