4 Lent/Year C/March 27, 2022
Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The gospel story we just listened to, includes a very well-known story, most commonly referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son…It’s an easily relatable story for any of us to find ourselves in…no matter who we are…
But the interesting thing, about listening to the living word of God each week…is the ability for us to hear something new every time we open ourselves up to hear what the spirit is saying to God’s people…
So, today…you might be identifying with someone else, or something else in the familiar story…Not only because the spirit is always at work in us, but because we have all been changed and transformed by God and by so many life experiences since we last listened to this gospel story in the Lenten season/Year C, in 2019…A lot has happened in all of our lives, since then…a lot of losses, yet a lot of things to celebrate and rejoice in!
And through it all…the most important details of this familiar story have not changed…The love of God, the forgiveness of God, the mercy of God, and the compassion of God, as shown to us through Jesus…is meant for all people, for all circumstances, and for all times… That is the Good News we can celebrate and rejoice in, as we consider, once again, what this parable has to say to us today!
So, in keeping with my practice of sharing other voices and commentaries with you on the gospel readings each week, in Lent...I turn now to today’s reflection…about saying I’m sorry, and turning towards home again...
(Rev Julie Platson, St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church)
A reflection for the 4th Sunday in Lent…
(written by “Preacher Kate”- an Episcopal pastor serving as Rector of Christ Church, La Plata and Christ Church, Wayside, in Southern Maryland, posted on her blogspot, called Water Daily, where she posts a daily reflection about the upcoming gospel reading for each Sunday)
http://preachergirlkate.blogspot.com/2022/03/3-24-22-home-comes-to-us.html)
Today’s reflection is called…. “Home Comes to Us”
You can listen to this reflection here (read by Preacher Kate)
As a teenager, I was enthralled with the movie Love Story, with its famous tagline, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” That kind of statement can pretty much only be made after someone’s just said, “I’m sorry…” A more accurate statement would be, “Love means always having to say you’re sorry.” We need always be aware of the ways in which we hurt or fail to notice our loved ones’ feelings. Learning to say you’re sorry quickly and naturally is one of the building blocks of a healthy relationship.
Yet working up to “I’m sorry” is often a struggle. Once we’ve wrestled through our self-justifications and acknowledged the need, we often find ourselves rehearsing, trying to find the right words. That’s exactly what the young man in Jesus’ story does: writes his speech ahead of time. “I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’” So he set off and went to his father.
When we head off to ask forgiveness of another person, we can never be sure of the reception we’ll get. This young man, who’d in effect disowned his father, probably caused him to liquidate assets at a loss, may have assumed his father had disowned him. When we offer repentance, we have to simply offer it, and be willing to lay it down and walk away. We can’t compel forgiveness or even a hearing.
Ah, but Jesus tells us that it’s different with God. If this story is a picture of what the realm of God is like, we should take notice of what happens next: forgiveness doesn’t wait for this young man to express his sorrow. Forgiveness is out in the road, waiting for him: But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
The son tries to make his speech, but his father is way ahead of him: But the father said to his servants, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”
Was the father peering down that road every day, hoping against hope to see his son return? Did he even care if the boy was sorry, or did he only want to be reunited with his beloved? Does God really love us that much?
Jesus said “yes.” Jesus showed us “yes,” just how much God loves us. Jesus left Home and came into our road to wait for us. We don’t even have to get home – Home comes to us, with royal robes and sandals for our tired feet. This is one “I’m sorry” for which we don’t have to doubt the reception. We only need to turn ourselves toward home.
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Let us pray….
HYMN after sermon: (LEVS)101 - Softly and tenderly (Vs 1,2, 4)
1 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
2 Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Refrain
4 Oh! For the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me;
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
Refrain