Perfect Love Freely Given
Posted on Mar 31, 2019 by David Whetter
“Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus.] And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:1-2)
Reading these two verses reminds me of me. I have to confess, I am guilty of often looking around and comparing myself to others. I often try to justify my actions based on the bad actions of others. “Oh, I am glad I am not like that person … Boy, I would never do that …”. Not only do I think like that, but, when I see those other people seemingly having more fun than me or being more successful than me, I grumble and complain. I love to grumble, don’t you?
Grumbling! That’s what the crowd around Jesus was doing in our story today. Actually, those doing the grumbling were part of the “in” crowd of the day. They were a lot like us; you know the type, “church-going,” “card-carrying,” church members. They were grumbling because Jesus welcomed those “sinners.” And Luke doesn’t use the term “sinner” here as in the Reformation sense that “we’re all sinners.” No, Luke’s using language that implies that the way of living of these “sinners” is so bad, so appalling, that the whole community knows about it. And to make matters worse, they don’t seem to change after Jesus meets with them. They still go on publicly sinning. Maybe, if after hanging out with Jesus these folks had shaped up and changed their lives and started going to synagogue and all the rest, maybe the Pharisees and scribes would’ve been more accepting. But, apparently, that wasn’t happening, and so they grumbled.
Who are those who come to church, claim to be people of faith, and yet, they still continue to sin and they don’t seem to hide it? Who are those who we don’t think deserve God’s love? Like our brothers and sisters in Jesus’ day, all too often we see life as a game with winners and losers and we usually like to put ourselves, because we are “repentant sinners,” on the winning side. But today, Jesus’ words challenge us to open our hearts and minds to hear some incredibly good news. That good news, no, that great news, is this: God’s love is freely shared with everyone and there are no strings attached. None of us can earn that love, and we definitely do not deserve it, but God gives it to us freely, whether or not we follow God’s ways perfectly. God’s love is perfect, and God gives us this love whether or not we live repentant lives.
We might come to worship every Sunday, but coming here doesn’t earn some free pass into God’s kingdom. Hopefully we come because we want to offer thanksgiving and praise for God’s glory, and because we hunger and thirst for God’s word and sacrament. We support ministries like Pantry Pack or Lutheran World Relief; we help our neighbor, we share with those in need, and we stand with the oppressed and marginalized, not because Jesus said we have to do this stuff, no, we ought to do all this because we desire to respond to God’s grace and mercy with our own feeble attempts to imitate Jesus, who is God’s perfect love. As one scholar notes, such a way of living “is challenging, exhausting, never-ending, perspective-altering, radically humbling work” and we often fail, but God never fails to stop freely giving us her love.
The parable today is a famous and great example of this incredible love that God freely shares with everyone, not just a choice few. This story, which we call the parable of the prodigal son, is a favorite of many of us, but, personally, it is one of the most frustrating stories Jesus tells. To be honest, I often read this story with frustration and a bit of righteous indignation, because all too often I place myself in the place of the older son. I am usually the one who tries to play by the rules. I’m the one who tries to always remain faithful, no matter what, and personally I can empathize with the older son. So when the younger son, after demanding what belonged to him and then foolishly squandering it all, is welcomed back with open arms, I find that a little frustrating. Is Jesus saying I should throw my faithfulness out the window? Is Jesus suggesting that I squander my gifts because it doesn’t matter? Well, I think you already know the answer to these questions. Of course Jesus isn’t suggesting that we purposefully be like the younger son, but I do think Jesus is trying to help us see that even though there are times we may be like the older son, faithful and steadfast in our commitment to Christ, more often than not, we are also like younger son. How often do we demand or want something that we think belongs to us? There are many times I haven’t freely given of what I have because I was afraid that if I gave too much away that I wouldn’t have enough for me, or my family. And I am not just talking about money. Oh sure, there are times when I fail to give freely of my financial wealth because I want to keep more for me, but there are many times when I fail to donate my time or my energy, because I just don’t think the other people or issues are worth it. Or I think I just don’t have the time. My time is too valuable to spare or give up for “them.” I like focusing on me. Whether I want to admit it or not, there are many times I am just like the younger son.
The truth be told, both sons were selfish and both sons loved grumbling about the father’s generosity. The younger son grumbled and got what “he deserved,” and then he took that inheritance and squandered it. It was only after suffering the consequences of his foolish ways that he was able to see the errors of his way. The older son didn’t ask for anything, but in his grumbling he, too, made it clear that he followed in his father’s ways, not because he wanted to be a generous and faithful person, but because he wanted all that was his for himself.
Remember what happened when the older son found out his father was celebrating the return of his younger brother? “His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends” (15:28-29). This was all about him, not about living a generous and holy life.
This story of the prodigal son is really about the “love of a father.” Our Heavenly Father knows our brokenness and knows our failures, and yet, even while we are still sinners, he offers us forgiveness and mercy and his perfect love.
Nothing in this story tells us that the younger son was ready to repent, that is, completely changing his ways. No, according to this story, the son came back because he knew his father treated his slaves better than he was being treated in the land in which he was. When the son gets back home and starts out with the speech he’s rehearsed, he barely gets into it before his father interrupts him, and commands his servant to prepare a feast and celebration. It didn’t matter to the father that his young son would sin again. No, what mattered was that he came back.
Both sons have been foolish in their actions and feelings, but the Father, our God, is also foolish. In fact, maybe instead of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we ought to call this the Parable of the Foolish Father. The good news today is that our God is foolish, reckless, and even extravagant with his love for us. And, yes, there have been, and will be, times when we confess our sin, like the younger son, or when we can’t confess, like the older son, and yet, our God still extravagantly lavishes us with her love. God has so much forgiveness and grace to offer whether we deserve it or not, and so much love to share that she can’t hold it back. For as John tells us, God is love” (1 John 4:8).
So, whether you are in a place where you can be sincere in your confession of faith, or not, God’s love and forgiveness is for you. Whether don’t know what to believe and are having a hard time faking it, or maybe you’re somewhere in the middle, know this, God desires you to come to complete faith, but the good news is God freely loves and accepts you as you are, right here, right now. Thanks be to God. Amen!