4th Friday of Lent (April 4). GRACE THAT OFFENDS

Prepare to Listen.  I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 15:25-32
25‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.  26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.  27He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.”  28Then he became angry and refused to go in.  His father came out and began to plead with him.  29But he answered his father, “Listen!  For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.  30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!”  31Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”’
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
This parable was directed at Jesus’ critics, the Pharisees and scribes (v. 2).  It ends, not with a warning, but with words of assurance (31-32).  Imagine how the critics felt on hearing this grace-filled conclusion.
 
I don’t blame the older brother for being angry.  No slave was sent to give him news of his brother’s return and the celebration party.  When he got near the house, he heard  music and dancing.  He had to ask a slave what was going on and that’s how he learned of his brother’s return.  He was angry at the grace the father gave to his profligate and undeserving son.  Grace offended his sense of fairness, forgiveness condoned his brother’s sin.  In his anger, he refused to go in.  But “his father came out and began to plead with him.”
 
When the younger son left home, the father never went after him, or pleaded with him to stay.  When the older brother refused to join the celebration, the father went out and pleaded with him, urging him to rejoice at the brother who “was dead and has come to life; was lost and has been found.”  He was assured that the father’s forgiveness for his wayward son, didn’t dimmish his love for his elder son.
 
Jesus’ critics were like the elder son.  They too were upset with the grace and welcome Jesus gave the undeserving.  However, “The embrace of the younger son did not mean the rejection of the elder; the love of tax collectors and sinners does not at all negate love of Pharisees and scribes.”[1]  God’s grace, which seems to overlook sin, may appear offensive to some, but God truly is a prodigal father, able to love us all.
 
Of the three characters, father, older and younger sons, with whom do you most identify?  What do you think about God’s extravagant grace?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, your grace crosses all boundaries and sometimes offends us.  Please help me to accept your embrace that welcomes all sorts.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Be as gracious as God.
[1] Craddock, Fred B.  Luke.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.  1990, p. 188.