Pastor’s Corner – September 5, 2024
Jesus Told a Parable IX (The last in the series. I hope you have enjoyed reading and participating in this study of some of the parables of Jesus.)
Teachers in Jesus’ time commonly used parables to express ideas. The parable is a story-like form of metaphorical communication. Parables invite reflection and conversation through multi-layered and open-ended interpretation. Parables are a perfect form for God’s Spirit to convey wisdom in both timeless and timely ways. Parables often come with a surprising twist, revealing the way Jesus’ lessons are counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. Jesus told parables to help his followers understand the quality and character of life aligned with God’s values.
One of the most well-known and loved parables is found only in Luke, the parable of the prodigal and his brother. This parable is recorded in Luke 15:11-32. Here is the parable in a nutshell: the younger of two sons asked for his inheritance before his father’s death, receives it and uses it to travel to a distant land where he wasted his inheritance in foolish and selfish pursuits. The older of the sons remained home fulfilling his responsibilities to his father. When the younger son returns home repentantly, the father welcomes him with open arms and throws a welcome home party. Not surprisingly, the older son is put off by his father’s spirit of welcome and forgiveness. The father responds with these familiar words: Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 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 (verses 31-32).
I invite you to take a spiritual reading of the parable. Read it through a few times slowly and prayerfully. Listen for the connecting points between the parable and your own life experience. Identify an image, word, or phrase that resonates in your spirit. Sit quietly and ask God to open your heart to a truth that you need in this moment in your life.
My time with this parable drew me to a detail in the words of the older son spoken to his father and found in verse 30. Rather than referring to the younger son as his brother, he refers to him as this son of yours. It made me think of the ways I sometimes use words to create distance rather than connection. Words do matter. It is important for me to listen and learn the most respectful ways to address others. Everyone deserves to be heard and to be treated with the inherent respect each one has as a loved child of God.
This is a lesson I glean from this parable of Jesus. How about you? How is the living Spirit of Christ connecting with you through this parable? Feel free to reach out if you would like to share your connecting point.
May the parables of Jesus help us grow in faith and discipleship.
Yours in Christ,
Marc
