The Message from Sunday, March 27, 2022, Fourth Sunday in Lent

 

The Message from Sunday, March 27, 2022
Fourth Sunday in Lent

The Return of the Prodigal Son

Painting by Rembrandt van Rijn (c. 1661-1669)

Scripture Reading:
Luke 15:11b-32

“The Eldest Son”

Would you pray with me: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen.

Today’s Gospel lesson is a familiar story which we have heard many times before. And we may question what more can we get out of this story. For as followers of Jesus Christ, the story of the prodigal son serves to reminder us of who we are. It is a reminder that we are God’s forgiven and beloved children.

This morning, I would like to begin by sharing a brief story from Rev. Brett Blair of the Christian Globe Network.[1] I hope that this story will open your hearts and minds to the possibilities of exploring this story in a new light.

“In 1986 Henri Nouwen, a Dutch theologian and writer, toured St. Petersburg, Russia, the former Leningrad. While there he visited the famous Hermitage where he saw, among other things, Rembrandt’s painting of the Prodigal Son. The painting was in a hallway and received the natural light of a nearby window. Nouwen stood for two hours, mesmerized by this remarkable painting. As he stood there the sun changed, and at every change of the light’s angle he saw a different aspect of the painting revealed. He would later write: “There were as many paintings in the Prodigal Son as there were changes in the day.”” [2]

As we look at today’s gospel lesson, may we see that there are “many different angles to the story itself,” [3] just as Henri Nouwen saw in Rembrandt’s painting of the Prodigal Son. Pictured above is a copy of this famous picture with the father embracing his youngest son who has returned home. When we see this image, it reminds of us our relationship with God, who welcomes us back with loving open arms, despite those time when we too have drifted away. And just like in the story of “The Prodigal Son,” most often our focus is on this scene.

As you look at this picture, however, I invite you to take a deeper look. In Rembrandt’s painting there is one very unique aspect to the image of the father that I would like to point out. Look closely at the father’s hands. Do you notice that they appear different, with one being more masculine and the other more feminine? In his painting, Rembrandt intentionally captures both the paternal and maternal nature of the father in this story, and of God. Yet, as we look at the entire image, we see in this painting that there are other people who are watching this event unfold.

How many people do you see depicted here? Perhaps four who stand out. But, if you look closely, you will see people who are lingering in the shadows, who are observing. Just for a moment, think about if you were one of these people in this painting, who might you be? And. how do you see yourself revealed in the story of the Prodigal Son?

Though there are many different angles to the story itself, just as there are different images in the painting, today we are going to focus on the elder son, whose story may come closer to our own than we may think. [4]

While the younger son went off squandering “his wealth in wild living,” the oldest son remained faithful to the father, working the fields and doing whatever his father desired. [5] And, as the household began to celebrate the return of the younger son, “the older son was” still “in the field.” [6] “When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.” [7] He asked one of the servants what was going on. When he was told that his brother had returned, and that the celebration was in honor of his brother’s return; “that his father had killed the fattened calf because he had him back safe and sound;” [8] “The older brother became angry.” [9]

He is angry that his brother had squandered everything. He is angry that his younger brother is not held accountable for his actions. And he is angry that his brother gets this big celebration, while he who has faithfully obeyed and served his father has never even been given “a goat” to celebrate with his friends. Most see the eldest son as being angry and unforgiving.[10]

And some may see the eldest son as the villain, as being mean and jealous of his younger brother.[11]

Some may suggest that he has a bitter spirit and there seems to be a certain self-righteousness about him.[12] After all, he has been completely faithful and so careful to do what was pleasing to their father.  Some might even think that perhaps he had a poor relationship with his younger brother, even before his brother left home.[13] While much of this may be speculation, “we can truthfully say that the elder brother was a hard worker; but is he was a man who loves his work so much, that he was willing to put in “overtime?”[14] Was he what we consider today to be a workaholic? And he certainly did not have a spirit of celebration, for “he refused to go in” for the party.

But let’s take a look at this oldest brother from a different perspective. We may see that he really wasn’t the mean person that he is made out to be, and perhaps we may find that we ourselves can relate to him in many aspects. First, the elder son was a hard worker. We find him still working in the field when the celebration begins. He has been “slaving” for his father for all these years, never disobeying an order. [15]

It is people like him who you can count on to get the job done. [16] They take responsibility to oversee a project. They work to no end to complete the task at hand. They give 100% plus effort, putting their hearts into the work they do. And they are always there when you need them. [17] They are earnest, sincere, and dedicated. [18] These people truly are hard workers, just as the elder son in this story. Does this sound like you or someone you know?

The eldest son was a person of high moral standards, honoring the wishes of his father, obeying him in every way. And he did what was pleasing to his father, and perhaps never complaining until this moment. Can you relate to this aspect of character found in the eldest son?

And even though he had lived with his father all those years, it seems from this story, he really didn’t understand his father. [19] Are there perhaps people in your own life who you have lived with for many years, or who you think you know well, but find out that you too don’t really understand them? Sometimes we don’t understand that they love us, because we perceive their actions to be harmful rather than helpful. Yet they believe what they do for us is done because they love us. Often, this is especially true when parents or grandparents are overprotective of their children or grandchildren. They do everything for them, rather than helping them to learn to stand on their own, despite the fact that mistakes may be made along the way.

And it seems, that often when we look at things, we only see them from one perspective – our own perspective. We fail to see that viewing things from only one perspective can be harmful and hurtful to others. It can lead to misunderstandings. And if left unaddressed, this can lead to broken relationships. Yet many people have no idea that they do this. Or they do not know how to look at things from different perspectives before something is said.

When we look at the story of the prodigal son, from a different perspective, we find that at the height of the elder son’s anger, he lashes out because he feels hurt. He does not see things from his father’s perspective of the son who was lost and now is found. [20] He does not see his father’s worry over whether his youngest son was dead or alive, in not hearing from him, or knowing where he was, or what happened to him. The eldest son feels a sense of hurt. And maybe deep down there was jealousy that in being the oldest he had to be the responsible one who could not just leave. Maybe he had desires to pursue a different path, but out of obedience and love for his father he remained.

In fact, when we take a deep look at the older brother, perhaps we see in ourselves some of these same characteristics. Many of us may not realize how unforgiving we are. We fail to see that we too are in need of forgiveness, for the harm that we cause, intentionally or unintentionally to others. And we too may not realize that we too are loved.

We may not recognize how much our Father in heaven truly loves us. Yet, God sent his only Son Jesus Christ into this world to reconcile us to God. And our Lord and Savior gave his life for us out of love, so that we may be restored to God. Think of the words Christ said as he hung upon that cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” [21]

As we focus on self-reflection and self-denial during this season of Lent, let us also focus on forgiveness. Forgiveness of others and of ourselves. For there is always forgiveness when we repent and trust in the Lord. And there is always a way for reconciliation for broken relationships, even when hope seems lost. May we know that in God’s infinite love for us, even when we do wrong, we are forgiven. And when we feel hurt or have been wronged by others, there is power in the love of our Lord which heals us.

Let us see that in today’s Gospel Lesson, the father loved both brothers, one as much as the other. And let us know that we are loved by God in the same way. May we rejoice over redemption.

May we have a spirit of celebration when we see a brother or sister shown love and mercy. And may we seek to see things from the perspectives of others and not just our own.

Would you pray with me: Forgiving God, who is all merciful, grant that we may find forgiveness in our hearts. Open our hearts to your infinite love that our spirits may be healed this day by your love and blessings. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

[1] Brett Blair, “The Other Prodigal Son,” https://sermons.com/sermon.the-other-prodigal-son/1338791.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church, “Lost and Found,” March 27, 2022, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/gathered-up-in-jesus/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes

[5] Luke 15:13, NIV

[6] Luke 15:25, NIV

[7] Ibid.

[8] Luke 15:27, NIV

[9] Luke 15:28, NIV

[10] Nancy C. Townley, Worship Connection: March 27, 2022, https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/3623/worship-connection-march-27-2022?msclkid=17df34f2b12911ecb8a9212a7055ce32

[11] Brett Blair, “The Other Prodigal Son,” https://sermons.com/sermon.the-other-prodigal-son/1338791.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Brett Blair, “The Other Prodigal Son,” https://sermons.com/sermon.the-other-prodigal-son/1338791.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Luke 15:29, NIV

[16] Brett Blair, “The Other Prodigal Son,” https://sermons.com/sermon.the-other-prodigal-son/1338791.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Luke 15:24, NRSV

[21] Luke 23:34, NIV