The Gospel text for this coming Sunday (March 18) is from the 15th chapter of Luke — the Prodigal Son.  The younger son in this parable gets sick and tired of living at home.  He is tired of working for his dad and tired of the rules.  So in his "infinite" wisdom, he decides to go it alone.  He asks (or rather, demands) for his part of the inheritance.  Essentially, this younger son is slapping his father in the face through this strange request and basically considers his father dead.  But the father does something surprising; he gives his son what he asked for and the son takes off.  The father is devastated.  The son goes and wastes his money on reckless living and then quickly falls on hard times.  After a period of time slopping pigs, this prodigal son finally comes to his senses and decides to throw himself on his father’s mercy; hoping to be treated as one of his hired workers.  The son rehearses his speech and heads for home, not knowing exactly what to expect, but hoping for something better than living with swine.

Meanwhile…back at home the father is sitting on his porch, looking down the road and waiting anxiously.  People tell him to give up but the father refuses.  His son maybe gone — lost — but he still holds out hope that he will return.  Then…off in the distance the father sees a familiar silhouette.  It’s his long lost son.  Without batting an eye, the waiting father jumps off the porch and runs to meet his son; a completely undignified act.  And before the prodigal son has a chance to run through his rehearsed speech, the father begins doting on him and plans a party, much to the chagrin of the older son; the one who has always stuck by his father’s side.  The father’s mercy and forgiveness is too wild for the older brother.  Maybe too wild for us.

Three characters — three completely different people.  Many messages — many possibilities. 

So…who do you relate to?  Is that even a question to ask here?  What is the point of this parable?  Where do you find hope in the parable?  I find myself pondering these questions as I consider what to preach this weekend.  Should I talk about the prodigal son…that is the title of the parable?  Should I talk about the older brother; who is resentful towards his wayward brother?  Or maybe, just maybe, I should talk about the gracious father who showed wild forgiveness. 

So many messages — so many possibilities.  How does this parable speak to you?  Hopefully God will place the answer to this question on my heart by Sunday.  In the mean time…how does this parable speak to you?

Praise God always and forever…AMEN! -edh-