"The High School Reunion"
I'm going to do something with this sermon I have never done here. I want the sermon to come in the form of a parable and the parable will be an adaptation of Jesus' "Parable of the Prodigal Son".
The methodology to get into the parable will be Garrison Keillor who had a way of telling a story that could bring into the story the human element plus a degree of depth of meaning. I hope to be able to use his suggestion, "My home town where all the men are strong, where all the women are good looking, and all the children are above average."
What might have happened to the younger son and the older brother in their later life? What might the younger son have learned as he came back home having realized he had wasted his life chasing after things that were superficial? What might have happened to the older brother who stayed home and enjoyed the benefit of his parent's hospitality but who never ventured out on his own?
The text is found in Luke 15:11-32
Do you see yourself as the younger child who went away and came back or the older child who never left? What are the consequences of being one of those? I think we are one or the other.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
PS
Theologians believe the whole purpose of this parable is Jesus' way of telling us about the nature of God. God is like a forgiving father who looks forward to the return of his wayward child. I think, for our purposes today, it has a greater meaning about who we are as children and how that influences the person we become.
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1 comment:
I am intrigued by your postscript on the blog, Charles, speaking of the theologians believing that the purpose of the parable of the Prodigal Son is Jesus' way of telling us about the nature of God.
Perhaps as something of a parallel to that, the parable might be seen as a description of the earthly life of many individuals:
A youth takes his/her God-given talents (the inheritance) and initially engages in various forms of “loose living” (earthly adventures without a sense of true purpose). Then, subject to the necessities of earthly life, s/he finds her/himself needing to “earn a living”, quite possibly choosing to be employed in a “dead-end” job, or perhaps a job they make to SEEM “dead-end”, from the drain of their own disinterest, addiction to outer security and routine. laboring out of duty only, or just walking through their days (daze) with a general lack of personal creativity.
Working without a sense of divine commission or personal purpose, but just hiring out to what they perceive as a separate entity, a “citizen or a distant country” – such a mere existence could definitely bring a sense of famine (lack, blandness), both personally and in all one observes.
But then perhaps, by the Grace of God, they awake and “come to their senses”. They say, “In my Father’s house, even those folks with the simplest of outer jobs – no big fame or fortune -- have nevertheless a sense of direction, purpose, personal integrity. Though their lives are quiet, and their means are modest, they are happy, fulfilled, creative, and a blessing to others. Forget my great notions of personal grandeur and inflated ego, I wish to serve with purpose, in the Father’s House -- be it ever so humble, come what may.”
And that sense of Purpose ignites a Festival of Creativity, a Robe of Radiance and vitality around the person begins to be noticed by those around, the Ring of True Identity in the Lord carries its own steady authority (no need for bombast), the sandals of sure-footedness bring traction to a creative life of service and blessing to others.
Then, in quiet moments, away from the celebrations, it falls to “the Father” (one’s Divinely-ordained self, that core part of each one that is in Love with the Maker, and is rightfully in love for one’s true self) to say to the “older brother” of self-judgment, shame and regret – that sadder, "wiser" one, now plagued with the hindsight of what could have been done, “should” have been done, WOULD have been done on that distant journey, if only... – The Father says gently, “Your brother was dead to real living, he was living a life of quiet desperation, without Purpose, but NOW he lives! Praise GOD with Me!”
I know this story fairly well, having lived all sides of it, at times. And I am left with a Shout, “THIS day is the day that the Lord hath made! Let us indeed make merry and create! Serve with gladness, this day and in every single moment we yet live!”
-- PenDell Pittman
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