Prodigal

"New In Christ" by the Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman of A Sanctified Art, LLC

This weekend we will be continuing in our Lenten Journey by listening to Jesus's parables about lost things.

While on path to Jerusalem, Jesus is teaching the crowds. After talking about cost of discipleship, some of the religious leaders of his time are grumbling. So, he tells them three stories:

A man lost one of his one hundred sheep. He left the ninety-nine to go find the one who needed help.

A woman lost one of her ten silver coins. She turns her house upside down until she finds it and then throws a party for that single one.

A man has two sons - the older, who follows in the traditions and customs; and the younger, who demands what he is "owed" before going and spending everything in a faraway place. When the younger returns home, the father shows profligate love for the one who has returned. No matter what he might have done. And throws him a crazy party.

These stories teach us something essential about the God that Jesus points to: our God will always seek out the lost, the least, the last and throw them a party because oftentimes, it is the unwanted and marginalized of this world (and especially by the church) who need the most attention.

This Love is not just profligate. Not simply overwhelming. It is downright prodigal.

It is extravagant. Counts no cost. And finds that there is nothing One will not spend or give for that Love.

The world (and quite often the church) will find this excessive and wasteful. Reckless and wanton. But that is precisely how much our God loves us and the way our God works.

In return, we are asked to be the ones who choose. Choose who is essential. Choose who is important. Choose who will matter as we are divvying up all the resources our God has given to us.

Tell you a secret: the answer is that we are meant to seek after all

those same lost and overlooked and unwanted ones the same way that our God has sought us.

See you this weekend!

Blessings,

Rev. Janie