Forgiving Father

Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32

 

This is probably the most famous parable. We all know this story of the prodigal son, and that is the most common title for this parable. "Prodigal Son" What I find interesting is that the word prodigal is now only used for this parable. When I asked the youth in my last youth group, what the word prodigal meant, I got answers from special, to I don't know. And even most adults will simply say it refers to the son in the parable who was wasteful. Which is really the correct answer, because we do not use it often as it is written in the dictionary.

–adjective

1.

wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.

2.

giving or yielding profusely; lavish (usually fol. by of or with):prodigal of smiles; prodigal with money.

3.

lavishly abundant; profuse: nature's prodigal resources.

–noun

4.

a person who spends, or has spent, his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance; spendthrift.

(dictionary.com)

 

But as I said, I believe the correct answer really is specific to this parable.

Just as there many other words we have adopted as Christians, such as "Lent" for example. Lent originally means spring, lengthening of days. And while most other languages call this liturgical season "the 40 days." But we know Lent not as spring but as the 40 days of penitence and reflection. However, changing the meaning of Lent makes sense. Why we have the 40 days is not simply because it is spring, but because we need time to prepare for the Holy Mystery of Resurrection Sunday. However, for the word Prodigal, one would have a tough time using it in a sentence without someone thinking of the parable. The meaning of the word really has not changed, but as you know no one can separate it from this scripture. That is not a big deal, on its own, except for the fact that this prodigal son is not the subject of the parable.

To understand why this is important we must explore another word; "love." Today we associate love with feelings, either sentimental or romantic. However, when the word is used in the Bible it is not about feelings, but rather action. For examples, I suggest the following: Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 5:43-45, and John 3:16. In each of these texts, love is the action not the feeling or sentiment. God did not just feel fondly about humanity, rather God acted and sent Jesus.

The subject of the parable is the father. First of all it is the father who is written has two sons, and the two are referred to by their relationship with the father. More importantly, it is truly the father who acts. Both sons react to their situations. The father loves and forgives both sons. If we read the parable with the younger son as the subject as it is usually presented, we miss the larger point of the parable. We may even respond by identifying with the older brother to deal with what we perceive as a mis-justice, and hear the father tell him "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Yet we still miss the point.

Remember this parable (with a few others) was said in response to the comment "This fellow [Jesus] welcomes sinners and eats with them." Thus when you see the father as the main subject you cannot help and see how he acts. He forgives or better still loves both sons, even the son that sins. Just as God loves each of us we simply need to turn toward God and accept this act of love, no matter if we are nurtured in God's love or out on a prodigal journey.