[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Wednesday March 29, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions Wednesday  March 29, 2006

The Daily Devotions are this week are written by Pastor Barry Ludwig. During
the season of Lent, the theme of Zion's Wednesday services (5 & 7pm) is
based upon our congregational set of values. Those values flow from the
person and name of Jesus (Justice, Energy to witness, Spiritual maturity,
Understanding the radical nature of Grace, Service to those in need). This
week we explore the radical nature of Grace.

 

 Luke  15:11-32  The parable of the Prodigal Son

 

Thought

One of dearest seminary professors was dying and in his last days he
prepared his own funeral service. It was this text that he chose as the
Gospel reading. In his notes on the service he wrote that he always believed
that the church had misnamed this parable. "It should not have been called
the prodigal son but the prodigal father," he wrote. Of course the word
prodigal means "luxurious" and even "wasteful." Carl knew that because of
such love, his future was secure. His heavenly father would welcome him into
heaven with rings and robes and celebration. He could face death with
confidence. 

 

The youngest son, who had no legal claim to an inheritance in the first
place, demanded half even long before his father had died (even the worst of
families do not squabble over an inheritance until the benefactor is dead).
The prodigal father gave it to him. Doesn't that seem wasteful and foolish?

 

When the son squandered everything and returned home in order to get three
squares and a roof over his head (Jesus never says he was truly sorry), the
prodigal father forgave him, threw a party and brought him back into the
family. Doesn't that seem foolish?  What is the old saying?  "Fool me once
shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me."

 

Doesn't it just make you frustrated and even angry to hear about that
father?  And that is the point Jesus is trying to make. The grace and love
of God is beyond our own ability to mimic or even understand. Like the
prodigal son, we just thankfully embrace the mystery of a parent's love.

 

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