You have just heard perhaps the greatest short story of all time by one of the greatest storytellers of all time. First we encountered the prodigal son, whose father is obviously well off with much land. His son wants to be wanderlust, so he demands his share of the family estate, ventures off and squanders his money in lewd living. Down to his last shekel, he finds himself working in a pigsty. This epitome of shame prompts him to come to his senses and return home.
He goes back, all set to apologize to his father, expecting the worse. Then we find the father spotting his wayward son far off. Filled with compassion, he excitedly runs to meet him as fast as he can and before the lad has a chance to apologize, he is embraced and kissed. Treating his son like an honored guest, the father summons the servants to clothe him with the finest robe to show that he is still his son.
Lastly, we meet the prodigal son’s older brother, who cannot believe his ears. “What in God’s name is going on??” he wants to know and he is outraged to learn that his father is throwing a party for that lazy lout who wasted his money. Did the elder brother ever join the party? We will never know but I can imagine him pouting out in the field, resentful of how his brother was treated, mumbling to himself, “Life ain’t fair!”
There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus shared this parable with the skeptical Pharisees and scribes to make the point that our God is forgiving and compassionate. A more fitting title for this parable would be the Prodigal Father, for prodigal means extravagant and lavish, and like the father in this parable; God lavishly forgives when the need arises.
The Pharisees could not understand why Jesus spent so much time with sinners. Their response to the Father’s generous welcome was the same as the Prodigal son’s older brother. The Pharisees and perhaps some of you can’t accept the notion that God’s love, compassion, and eternal life are gifts, generously given and that God holds no grudges for what any sinner has done or failed to do.
There are times when someone is forgiven and we might feel a tinge of resentment and argue, “He got off scot free when he deserved to be punished.” Most recently, the actor, Jussie Smollett, was spared prosecution in Chicago for what he did, much to the dismay and chagrin of that city’s mayor.
It’s justice that both the mayor and the older son are calling for. Justice seeks repayment for the hurt caused, but the prodigal Father instead cries for mercy and forgiveness.
Contrary to what the Pharisees think, our God is not a God of vengeance, waiting to pounce on us when we stray from the straight and narrow. Much to their consternation, God loves the sinner even while he or she sins. God runs to meet us, as did the Prodigal Father, to forgive us. Before you can say, “Bless me Father, for I have sinned,” God embraces us with lavish love, clothes us with a garment of innocence and celebrates whenever a sinner repents.
How freeing and uplifting the experience of forgiveness must have been for the prodigal son and can be for us. We are also uplifted when we follow the example of the Prodigal Father and extend forgiveness whenever we have been wronged, which the older son chose not to do.
Forgiveness does not mean liking someone or agreeing with them or setting oneself up for repeated hurt. Forgiveness means being open to reconciliation and healing; to restoring a broken relationship, hoping that by letting go of offenses just as God does, the future will be different from the past.
Granted it is not easy to forgive others yet Jesus once told Peter to forgive his brother 77 times, that is, “as often as it takes” just as God lavishly forgives us. Many like to think, “Well, that’s fine in theory, but lets use some common sense. If you forgive over and over, you’re simply inviting people to do whatever they want to do.” That retort is based on a skewed notion of what forgiveness is and isn’t. Forgiveness isn’t condoning or excusing the offense.
Forgiveness is what we can choose to do, regardless of what the other person does or doesn’t do. We don’t have to wait for an apology. Notice that on the cross Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
When the injury is severe, forgiveness will likely take time. But many hurts we hold onto injure our pride more than anything else. We hold on to them as though nursing our hurt feelings is more comfortable than moving on with life. Such was the mindset of the jealous older son, unwilling to celebrate the prodigal son’s return.
Such an attitude leaves us imprisoned; we are like the souls in hell whom CS Lewis describes in his book, The Great Divorce. They can take a bus ride to heaven anytime they want, but when they do, heaven frightens them. Most return to the hell of their own making. They are more comfortable holding onto their anger, resentments, and self-pity than the freedom that happens when we forgive. Does that describe you? When our hearts are closed, like clenched fists, to the notion of forgiving others, than we will remain closed to receiving God’s forgiveness. Forgiving others is probably the hardest thing we have to do at times yet if we desire to feel God’s forgiveness, then we must also practice the art of forgiveness on ourselves and others.