In our gospel reading for today, Jesus encounters some Pharisees and scribes who have a problem. They are upset that Jesus is willing to welcome tax collectors and sinners, as if Jesus was oblivious to the lifestyles that these people have led. And in response to their grumbling, Jesus tells these Pharisees the beautiful parable we have come to know as the prodigal son - the ultimate story of God's grace – a concept the Pharisees can't understand....
When dealing with someone who is stuck in self-destructive behaviour, we have a term we use to describe a loved one who tries to act out of compassion, but ends up doing more harm than good – that person is called an “enabler.” With the help of enablers, self-destructive people can continue their behaviour without suffering the full consequences of their behaviour – the gambling addict who gets the rent money he lost replaced by dad, the promiscuous teen who is defended in the community by a lying mom, the alcoholic who is fed primarily by the food bank. Enablers make it impossible for self-destructive people to “hit rock bottom,” to finally come to their senses, and to find a way back to a life of health and joy.
The Father in Jesus' parable is a fascinating character, and it is clear that Jesus is portraying his HEAVENLY Father in this story. The Father is approached by the younger son, and is told, “give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” This is the worst insult a son can give to his father – it says in effect, “I wish you were already dead.” It assumes that the Father will fulfill all of the duties of a father, while the son shows none of the love of a son. The younger son has big plans to move, not just a little ways from his home, but to a distant country – as far away from the Father as possible. And he has plans to spit on his Father's noble occupation, and live the hedonistic, irresponsible lifestyle his Father could never have imagined. The MOST fascinating part of the story is the Father's response. If the Father had said to the son, “For this intense pain you have now caused me, and for your complete disrespect, I am REVOKING your inheritance,” well then the story ends right there. But instead, the Father gives a response that ENABLES the younger son to reach the path of self-destruction - “he divided his property between them.”
Such is the risk God takes in giving his people free will. Any one of us at any time can go “rogue younger son”, and turn our backs on God, and make our way to a spiritually distant country. Any one of us at any time can turn our backs on the responsible, productive lifestyle God wants for us, and choose our own self-destructive path. And do you know what is UNLIKELY to happen in that case? A lightning strike from heaven, poisonous snakes biting us, leprosy, or any of the other Old Testament descriptions of God's punishment. If we want to walk away, it is almost like the Father ENABLES us, letting us leave his presence with all of the inheritance of blessings he has provided for us to date – our talents and treasure, our family and friends, our community and country, our freedom. We have been given free will...to take all of that, and “squander it in dissolute living.”
There is one good thing about the distant country to which the younger brother travels - “no one gave him anything.” There were no well-meaning enablers that enabled the younger brother to live comfortably apart from his Father, and so when things got bad enough, HE CAME TO HIMSELF. He RECOGNIZED what he had lost IN HIMSELF by abandoning his Father, and he humbled himself to ask for forgiveness. He no longer felt ENTITLED to the blessings of his Father, but instead was willing to EARN them. He made his way back to the farm, with only the HOPE of his Father's acceptance by GRACE.
And the Father's grace was overwhelming! The Father saw him FAR OFF, which means he was looking down the road frequently, hoping for his return. The Father IGNORED his offer to be a hired hand, and restored his son FULLY. The Father REJOICED, in the way only parents who have thought their child was dead, and their child is found to be alive, can understand. And the Father PLEADED with the older brother to ACCEPT the younger brother, despite his resentment. It was like the younger brother never left except for ONE BIG DIFFERENCE – the ATTITUDE of the younger brother. Before he left, the younger brother may have responded to the Father out of fear, or duty, or self-interest, or comfort, or habit, and those weren't a strong enough bond to hold them together. Having come to himself and having received GRACE, the younger brother can now respond to the Father out of LOYALTY and LOVE.
God's overwhelming grace for the younger brother, is for US as well. The Father sees us far off, and brings about circumstances in our lives so that we COME TO OURSELVES and start on our way back. The Father restores us FULLY as his children, through the death and resurrection of his son Jesus. The Father REJOICES in our return, as only a parent can. And the Father PLEADS with us to accept each other, and put an end to resentment.
The Pharisees who first heard this story of the prodigal son didn't get this concept, and so they ENABLED the tax collectors and sinners to live comfortably apart from God, by casting them out of polite society where contact with God-believers was common. We have the amazing good news of God's overwhelming grace, that we can share with others who have put distance between themselves and God, so that they can come to themselves, and return home.
Gracious God, we repent of those times where we enabled people to live apart from you, by our actions and our attitudes. Strengthen our bond with you, and help us to have your joy in welcoming your prodigal sons and daughters, in Jesus name, amen.