Focus 40 Third Sunday's Message

March 4, 2012

Luke 15:11-32

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.’  So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.  Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;  for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 

Forgiveness…

The son said to the father “I wish you were dead”.  He takes from the father and leaves his family behind to do as he pleases with what the father had given him.  Soon the son finds himself alone with nothing.  It’s then that the son begins to remember the days he spent with his father.  Life with the father was better than life without.  So he sets off for home humbled and ashamed.  The love of the father is greater than the wrongdoings of the son.  The father welcomes the wayward son home, hears his confession, honors him, and begins to celebrate.  The focus of the father isn’t on the wrongdoing of the son.  Instead the father forgives and celebrates the return of his beloved son.  What do we expect when we come to God?  Our Lord sees our shame, fear, and humility.  Our Lord knows our wrongdoing.  Our Lord responds with forgiveness and celebration.  We were once lost, but now we are found.  God’s love forgives.  May we forgive as well.