Prodigals and Mustard Seeds
This weekend is Respect Life Sunday, and these readings can help us to celebrate that well.
In working to promote a culture of life, and to counter the misguided efforts that claim to promote human dignity, but actually undermine it, Habakkuk’s complaint can easily become our own: We cry Violence! But no one seems to listen. Why must we look on misery, strife and destruction? On days when that sentiment seems to overwhelm, we would do well to go back to the second half of our reading from Habakkuk. The answer he received is an answer for us as well. “Write down the vision clearly on the tablets, so one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint”. If that isn’t encouragement enough, we take to heart the words to Timothy in our second reading as being addressed directly to us: “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self control….bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” Good advice, especially when our efforts can seem to have so little impact.
But what about the Gospel? Well, it to could be taken to mean we need to serve the cause, come what may, because it is our obligation. My preaching dilemma: Where is the good news?I mean really good news. Looking on at destruction, bearing our share of hardship, content to say we are unprofitable servants … hardly a message that would immediately fill us with joy.
Well, as I prayed with the Gospel this week, a Gospel from a few weeks ago came to me, the parable of the prodigal son.At first I couldn’t see whyit kept coming to mind, but then the answer came. In light of this week’s Gospel, we might do well to revisit the prodigal son’s family, and add a third son or daughter into the picture.
In the parable of prodigal son, the younger son acted out being spoiled and self centered by asking for his inheritance, abandoning his family to do his own thing, and in the end he squanders all he had been given. Asad mess.It still happens at times today.
But then the older son acted out his self-centeredness by following all the rules and expectations, though apparently begrudgingly. He was indifferent to his younger brother’s fate, was unmoved by his father’s heartache after the prodigal left, or by the dad’s joy when his son came home. The older brother was only able to think of himself, and so dried up inside, bitter and caustic, even though outwardly seeming obedient.
To accommodate the servant Jesus holds up to us in today’s Gospel, we might add a third son or daughter to the family, to round out the picture. This one joyfully lives and works on the family estate. This one not only does what is expected, but is actually grateful for the opportunity. Not working for praise and reward, anxiously looking for feasts or kudos. Simply glad to have a family to call home, and the opportunity to do chores as a way of expressing love and gratitude. A joyful servant, not a dour slave.
Are there folks like that? I could paint a picture of immigrants who come from the most desperate circumstances, take low paying jobs, and are actually grateful to be able to be here; to have the opportunity to earn a very modest living, and to be able to scrimp enough to send some money back home to family members who aren’t as blessed. Willing to serve, grateful for work. It is tragic that some would like to use them as scapegoats. But that story would have fit better the past two weeks, when we heard from the prophet Amos, decrying the plight of the poor and crying out for social justice.
To the Good News.The great news.Friends, we have been saved by the tremendous love and infinite mercy of God. Sin and selfishness, as illustrated with the two brothers in the Prodigal son story, can dig a hole in the mire and pull us into it, whether the mire of self indulgence, or the mire of ingratitude and joyless, loveless toil. From the cross, Jesus stretches out his arms to embrace us in our sorry human condition. In his resurrection, he reaches out a hand and lifts us out of sin and into the life of grace. His sacrificial love breaks the power of sin and selfishness that leads to spiritual and physical death. Jesus opens up the path to life, shows us the way, invites every one of us to follow. Sacrificial love changes everything. That is what we celebrate at the altar every week in the Eucharist.
Why remain in a life of ungrateful, unfruitful toil? How long can we be deceived by a promise of false freedom: give me the inheritance and off I go. That choice is really hopeless self indulgence, a dead end street.Jesus offers true freedom … the freedom to be rooted in accepting God’s infinite love and mercy, a child of God set free by the sacrificial love of Christ. Free to learn the path of love and forgiveness as it unfolds in our particular life. Free to embrace a beautiful, life-giving mission. We can share with Christ in building up the kingdom, creating that family we call the church. We can have a hand in the service of changing lives, bringing health and healing and wholeness to individuals, families, neighborhoods and our world, one act of love at a time.
Which brings me to the mustard seed. Jesus is not promising that faith leads to amazing telekinetic powers. The hyperbole draws us into a world where, with God’s grace, even the tiniest things, the seemingly most insignificant acts of faith and love can bring about unbelievable results.
I believethe message of the Gospel can fit beautifully with Respect Life Sunday, especially if we take a cue from Pope Francis’ wisdom & leadership. His recent interview is filled with an incredible respect for life, without being strident or judgmental. Respect for life takes root when we truly appreciate the Gospel message Pope Francis named so clearly – God is in every single person’s life, no matter the circumstance.Let me frame what I believe Francis is calling us to by going back to the idea of a prodigal son story with an added sibling.
As the church, sometimes we have been that critical, judgmental older brother, who fails to appreciate the plight of the younger son or the father’s sorrow, or the father’s boundless joy. Absent joy, the Gospel message isn’t Gospel.
Others want to leave behind the wisdom of the faith and values that are rooted in God’s word and ongoing revelation, seeking an alleged freedom that is anything but life-giving freedom. We are free to embrace and live life, to celebrate it, cherish it, protect it, foster it. But not free to destroy it. Devalue life, and every person is diminished.
We would do well to focus on being the third son or daughter. Working to promote the dignity of every human life, from the moment one is conceived until the day one is called home by God. Promoting the Gospel of Life with the strength and courage the letter to Timothy encourages, never ashamed of our testimony for the Lord. But we will fail if we become the bitter, judging elder son. My added third sibling in the story takes his or her cues from the father, always ready to run, embrace, and welcome God’s children back into the family. That, to use Francis’ term, is the first proclamation.
A theme that runs through our readings today is faith. Habakkuk tells us the just one will live because of their faith. The word he uses actually is not faith as an intellectual concept. He means an abiding trust, centered in God’s will, secure in God. Paul encourages Timothy to stir into flame the gift of faith. Faith that is strong, loving and wise. Jesus speaks about what faith the size of a mustard seed can accomplish. I love what Pope Francis said about faith in his interview. Let me quote:
“I have a dogmatic certainty: God is in every person’s life. God is in everyone’s life. Even if the life of that person has been a disaster, even if it has been destroyed by vices, drugs, or anything else – God is in this person’s life. You can, you must try to seek God in every human life. Although the life of a person is a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.”
So.The faith by which the just person will live, as Habakkuk tells?Faith that God is in every person’s life, to be discovered and treasured.Faith that God’s vision of who we are and what we can become together will not disappoint.
The faith we encouraged to stir into flame? Faith in our loving God, who can lead us to see and cherish the holiness of life, and guide us to work faithfully and joyfully to bring that appreciation to others, while bringing to light the deceptions about false freedoms, or paths that lead away from holiness and life. Faith that the Holy Spirit dwells within each of us
And most beautiful, the truly good news – Jesus’ promise today. If we do our duty working for the kingdom, seeking and following God’s will, doing our best for others with the gifts we have been given, then even the most insignificant acts of love and life will bring about results that we can hardly imagine. For that kind of faith and trust we pray. That message of hope we celebrate in this Eucharist.