Micah 7:18-20; 1 Peter 5:6-11; St Luke 15:11-32
Confirmation of Jill Brabender
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The Parable of the Lost Son, usually called the Prodigal Son, is the Christian parable par excellence. It is the parable of the parables. The center panel of the triptych of these three parables in Luke 15 - the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son - which Jesus told because the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Lk 15:2).
Maybe even more than John 3:16, this parable is the Gospel in a nutshell. A narrative summation of our faith. Simple enough for a child to comprehend yet too deep for the most humble and erudite theologian. The poetic statement of the father at the end, Your brother was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found, is as important to Christianity as, For God so loved the world. By grace you have been saved. And, I know that my Redeemer lives.
Your brother was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.
We usually focus on the lost son. The one who is reported to have wasted his living with prostitutes and who longed for the pods fed to pigs. He saw the error of his ways and repented. And in this our focus turns toward the compassion of the father. He had already acquiesced to the son’s insulting demand. Little is gained in forcing a kid to stay at home who is already gone in his heart. But upon his return he runs out to meet him. He quickly forgives him. Which, notice, alters the rehearsed confession just enough to make it acceptable. He doesn’t earn his way back. He is restored in mercy. Love moves one to true confession.
People loved by God, we rightly understand that we are the prodigals restored. That God the Father ran to meet us in Baptism and clothes us with the cloak of righteousness. That He speaks kindly to us in the Scriptures and puts the family ring on our finger. That the Lord’s Supper is the celebratory banquet wherein we are publicly declared to be the true and restored sons of God. In a sense, this is what the Rite of Confirmation is all about. Especially for adult catechumens like Jill. We wandered far from home and have returned by the grace of God in Christ Jesus and the compassion of the Father.
We were dead and are alive. We were lost and are found.
In context, though, the weight of the parable is actually on the older son, not the younger. The one who stands outside the feast and pouts. We are quite good at feeling superior to that guy. We know who the hero of the story is and its not him. He suffers that which Americans hate most: snobbery and self-righteousness. He thinks himself holier than others.
We must tread softly here, dear Christians. The flesh is weak and full of pride. It thinks it engages in Christian charity, but finds a way to love and approve of itself even in the name of not thinking too much of oneself. There’s a perverse form of pride, maybe more subtle and therefore more deadly, to be proud of one’s humility. To judge others as proud and to bask in one’s non-judgmentalism.
It is virtually impossible for the fallen human flesh to note that someone else is self-righteous, is proud or thinks that he is holier than other people and not be immediately guilty of thinking yourself to be holier than him precisely because you do not think yourself better than other people. Remember the Pharisee and the tax collector? Do you thank God that you’re not like that guy who thinks he’s better than other people? Oops.
We do, though, don’t we? We think we’re better than the guys in orange jumpsuits picking up trash by the side of the highway. That we’re not as wicked as the drug dealer, the child pornographer, the sexual deviant. The only difference between them and us is they were caught and punished for their sins.
What’s worse is that there is something broken and proud in us that loves the sins of the prodigal and hates the obedience of the older brother. Part of it is that we like the drama. And drama comes from conflict. Americans or not, we are by nature rebellious people. We like the idea of destroying the statues of our enemies. Of indulging our vengeance and taking an eye for an eye. We all have some hedonistic greed that like the idea of tasting for ourselves the illicit pleasures and being welcomed back as conquering heroes richer for the experience. Our fantasies betray us. And they are worse than vanity. They are deadly. God is not mocked.
Repentance is continuously needed dear Christians. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
The truth is, most of us have not lived interesting lives full of sinful drama. We should be thankful for that. It does not make us better Christians than others. Neither does it make you ignorant of the power of the Gospel, either. Unless Jesus and His Mother and Simeon were ignorant in the Gospel. Unless God was just kidding in the Law. Piety and sanctification aren’t harmful to faith. Thinking that they are can be harmful, though.
But this older brother, despite his outward appearance, definitely had some problems. So do we. We are in danger. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion. Temptation is all around us. But we are not alone. The compassionate Father stands outside the house with us and invites us in.
All that is Mine is yours. Be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.
Be glad. Come in. Rejoice. The fattened calf was killed for you too. That is, Jesus Christ, who was fattened up with your sins, not only of fleshly indulgence, but also of pride and vanity, has been roasted on the Spit of the Father’s wrath. He has been Sacrificed in order to make a way back home for you. You are with Him always. Don’t sulk that you aren’t a celebrity in the Church. The Father has come out in compassion to get you because even though you are with Him always your flesh is weak. You may be hardly noticed by the party-goers, but the Father notices and He wants you with Him
That is where the parable ends. We don’t know what the older brother does. Does he repent and is ushered into the house by his Father? Or does he refuse and sulk outside? in a sense it doesn’t matter. Jesus leaves the door open for the Pharisees. Which means He leaves it open for you, too.
What will you do?
Dear Christians this world is full of injustices. The wicked are rewarded. The poor are forgotten. Hard work goes unnoticed. But the Banquet isn’t a reward for righteousness. It is grace. You can’t buy or earn your way in. Neither son has a right to be there. Not the prodigal or the cranky. It doesn’t matter if you were outwardly obedient. And don’t look down on those who weren’t. No on get’s in by right.
Christ Jesus died for you. He held nothing back. Like His Father He was reckless and prodigal. Extravagant with His love and mercy and forgiveness. He has had compassion on you and has tread your iniquities underfoot. He has cast all your sins into the depth of the sea. He has reconciled you to the Father. There is nothing left to pay. No earning your way back to the Father’s Table. Now the Father Himself is seeking you.
Your Brother was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found. You don’t need to stand in the cemetery with the death you’ve earned. Your Brother was dead and is alive. You can live also. You can be found.
Come to the Supper, dear brothers. Leave death and pride behind. All is ready. None is worthy. But Christ Jesus has died and risen for people like you.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Confirmation of Jill Brabender
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The Parable of the Lost Son, usually called the Prodigal Son, is the Christian parable par excellence. It is the parable of the parables. The center panel of the triptych of these three parables in Luke 15 - the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son - which Jesus told because the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Lk 15:2).
Maybe even more than John 3:16, this parable is the Gospel in a nutshell. A narrative summation of our faith. Simple enough for a child to comprehend yet too deep for the most humble and erudite theologian. The poetic statement of the father at the end, Your brother was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found, is as important to Christianity as, For God so loved the world. By grace you have been saved. And, I know that my Redeemer lives.
Your brother was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.
We usually focus on the lost son. The one who is reported to have wasted his living with prostitutes and who longed for the pods fed to pigs. He saw the error of his ways and repented. And in this our focus turns toward the compassion of the father. He had already acquiesced to the son’s insulting demand. Little is gained in forcing a kid to stay at home who is already gone in his heart. But upon his return he runs out to meet him. He quickly forgives him. Which, notice, alters the rehearsed confession just enough to make it acceptable. He doesn’t earn his way back. He is restored in mercy. Love moves one to true confession.
People loved by God, we rightly understand that we are the prodigals restored. That God the Father ran to meet us in Baptism and clothes us with the cloak of righteousness. That He speaks kindly to us in the Scriptures and puts the family ring on our finger. That the Lord’s Supper is the celebratory banquet wherein we are publicly declared to be the true and restored sons of God. In a sense, this is what the Rite of Confirmation is all about. Especially for adult catechumens like Jill. We wandered far from home and have returned by the grace of God in Christ Jesus and the compassion of the Father.
We were dead and are alive. We were lost and are found.
In context, though, the weight of the parable is actually on the older son, not the younger. The one who stands outside the feast and pouts. We are quite good at feeling superior to that guy. We know who the hero of the story is and its not him. He suffers that which Americans hate most: snobbery and self-righteousness. He thinks himself holier than others.
We must tread softly here, dear Christians. The flesh is weak and full of pride. It thinks it engages in Christian charity, but finds a way to love and approve of itself even in the name of not thinking too much of oneself. There’s a perverse form of pride, maybe more subtle and therefore more deadly, to be proud of one’s humility. To judge others as proud and to bask in one’s non-judgmentalism.
It is virtually impossible for the fallen human flesh to note that someone else is self-righteous, is proud or thinks that he is holier than other people and not be immediately guilty of thinking yourself to be holier than him precisely because you do not think yourself better than other people. Remember the Pharisee and the tax collector? Do you thank God that you’re not like that guy who thinks he’s better than other people? Oops.
We do, though, don’t we? We think we’re better than the guys in orange jumpsuits picking up trash by the side of the highway. That we’re not as wicked as the drug dealer, the child pornographer, the sexual deviant. The only difference between them and us is they were caught and punished for their sins.
What’s worse is that there is something broken and proud in us that loves the sins of the prodigal and hates the obedience of the older brother. Part of it is that we like the drama. And drama comes from conflict. Americans or not, we are by nature rebellious people. We like the idea of destroying the statues of our enemies. Of indulging our vengeance and taking an eye for an eye. We all have some hedonistic greed that like the idea of tasting for ourselves the illicit pleasures and being welcomed back as conquering heroes richer for the experience. Our fantasies betray us. And they are worse than vanity. They are deadly. God is not mocked.
Repentance is continuously needed dear Christians. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
The truth is, most of us have not lived interesting lives full of sinful drama. We should be thankful for that. It does not make us better Christians than others. Neither does it make you ignorant of the power of the Gospel, either. Unless Jesus and His Mother and Simeon were ignorant in the Gospel. Unless God was just kidding in the Law. Piety and sanctification aren’t harmful to faith. Thinking that they are can be harmful, though.
But this older brother, despite his outward appearance, definitely had some problems. So do we. We are in danger. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion. Temptation is all around us. But we are not alone. The compassionate Father stands outside the house with us and invites us in.
All that is Mine is yours. Be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.
Be glad. Come in. Rejoice. The fattened calf was killed for you too. That is, Jesus Christ, who was fattened up with your sins, not only of fleshly indulgence, but also of pride and vanity, has been roasted on the Spit of the Father’s wrath. He has been Sacrificed in order to make a way back home for you. You are with Him always. Don’t sulk that you aren’t a celebrity in the Church. The Father has come out in compassion to get you because even though you are with Him always your flesh is weak. You may be hardly noticed by the party-goers, but the Father notices and He wants you with Him
That is where the parable ends. We don’t know what the older brother does. Does he repent and is ushered into the house by his Father? Or does he refuse and sulk outside? in a sense it doesn’t matter. Jesus leaves the door open for the Pharisees. Which means He leaves it open for you, too.
What will you do?
Dear Christians this world is full of injustices. The wicked are rewarded. The poor are forgotten. Hard work goes unnoticed. But the Banquet isn’t a reward for righteousness. It is grace. You can’t buy or earn your way in. Neither son has a right to be there. Not the prodigal or the cranky. It doesn’t matter if you were outwardly obedient. And don’t look down on those who weren’t. No on get’s in by right.
Christ Jesus died for you. He held nothing back. Like His Father He was reckless and prodigal. Extravagant with His love and mercy and forgiveness. He has had compassion on you and has tread your iniquities underfoot. He has cast all your sins into the depth of the sea. He has reconciled you to the Father. There is nothing left to pay. No earning your way back to the Father’s Table. Now the Father Himself is seeking you.
Your Brother was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found. You don’t need to stand in the cemetery with the death you’ve earned. Your Brother was dead and is alive. You can live also. You can be found.
Come to the Supper, dear brothers. Leave death and pride behind. All is ready. None is worthy. But Christ Jesus has died and risen for people like you.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
RSS Feed