Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, March 10, 2013.
Galway Cathedral, Prodigal Son.
After 40 years wandering in the desert, the Israelites have come to Canaan, the land of milk and honey, and they celebrate with bread made from the produce of the promised land. The book of Joshua will go on to tell us that people already live on the land. It will have to be taken by bloody force, a darker side of Israel’s ancestral story. For now, though, as we move toward the promise of Easter – and Passover – we simply share in the joy of completing a long journey.
Psalm 32
Who hasn’t known the anguish of doing something wrong that hurt a loved one? An angry word, a careless act, and then we see that look of pain, the sudden tear, and we feel so bad. When these things happen, there’s only one thing to say: “I’m sorry.” When this simple response brings a smile and forgiveness, everything feels better. And so it is when we sin and step away from God. It hurts. And as the Psalmist sings, God’s forgiveness and steadfast love can make us shout for joy.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Paul was dealing with an angry, troubled congregation in this second letter to the people of Corinth. They’re mad at him, and he’s not so happy with them, either. But he loves them and wants their forgiveness, and in these verses he points out that God gave us Christ to reconcile the world to God. Paul asks the Corinthians to do the same. Can we do any less?
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Everyone loves the parable of the Prodigal Son. But do we all hear it in the same way? If you are an older sibling, you may find it easier to relate to the older son’s reaction when his bratty brother came slinking home and got a feast. As his father’s loving reassurance made it all better, so the parable reassures us that God’s nurturing grace is open to us all: Long-suffering good kid and prodigal brother too. Where do you find yourself when you hear this story? Can you feel the love?