A Poem a Sunday
Pentecost 17 – C
September 11, 2016
St. Luke 15 - New
Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Commentary: Luke’s Gospel is unique in recording the
Parables of the Lost. Repentance is the
theme. Jesus is teaching the Pharisees
and inviting them to join in the joy in heaven.
This set of three tales is about restorative communities that embrace the
lost. The Elder Son is in as much need
of repentance at the Young Prodigal. Is
the Church today a restorative community, or only for the ‘accepted and warm,
the beautiful and bold’?
The Parable of the
Lost Sheep
15 Now
all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This
fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So
he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and
losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go
after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he
lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls
together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I
have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be
more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the
Lost Coin
8 “Or
what woman having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one
of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she
finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and
neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had
lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels
of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the
Prodigal and His Brother
11 Then
Jesus[b] said, “There was
a man who had two sons. 12 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. 13 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. 14 When he had spent everything, a
severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 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. 16 He would gladly
have filled himself with[c] the pods that the
pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to
himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to
spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my
father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of
your hired hands.”’ 20 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. 21 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.’[d] 22 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. 23 And get the
fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of
mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to
celebrate.
25 “Now
his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he
heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was
going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has
killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’
28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and
began to plead with him. 29 But 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. 30 But when this son of yours came back,
who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for
him!’ 31 Then the father[e] said to him,
‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But 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.’”
Footnotes:
Luke
15:8
Gk drachmas, each worth about a day’s wage for a laborer
Luke
15:11
Gk he
Luke
15:16
Other ancient authorities read filled his stomach with
Luke
15:21
Other ancient authorities add Treat me like one of your hired servants
Lost and Found
Lost:
Coats and hats,
earrings and scarfs
in the Church’s
lost and found.
Unclaimed,
unnamed,
ignored
too long
if ever
to be found.
Rejected and cold,
plain and old
in the Church’s
lost and found.
Unclaimed,
unnamed,
ignored
too long
if ever
to be found.
Found:
Coats and hats,
earrings and scarfs
in the Church’s
lost and found.
Claimed,
named,
sought
too long
yet finally
found.
Accepted and warm,
beautiful and bold
never the Church’s
lost or found.
Claimed,
named
sought always,
making the Church
safe and ‘holy’ ground.
Copyright
@ A Poem a Sunday
May
be used with permission.
No comments:
Post a Comment