December 23, 2007, Bulletin InsertFourth Sunday of Advent - Love
I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. The
angel said to me, “Behold the Lamb of God, even the Son of the Eternal Father!
Do you know the meaning of the tree which your father saw?” I answered him,
saying, “Yes, it is the love of God, which sheds itself abroad in the hearts of
the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things. And he
spoke to me, saying, “Yes, and the most joyous to the soul.” (1 Nephi 3:61-65)There are a series of stories in the 15th chapter of Luke about seeking that which is lost—seeking a sheep, seeking a coin, seeking a son. In the first story, a shepherd has lost one of his sheep. He searches to find it and then calls together his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him that he found and recovered the sheep. In the second story, a woman has lost a silver coin. The coin is one of a set of 10 coins, probably part of her dowry and something of great value to a peasant woman. She searches throughout her home until she finds it. And she, too, calls together her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her.
The third story is popularly called The Prodigal Son, but the story is really more about the father. The son leaves home after asking to receive his inheritance early, then squanders it all away. He becomes desperate in his poor circumstances and determines to return to his father, not as a son, but as a servant. The father sees him returning home and rushes out to embrace him. He puts a robe on him and a ring on his finger—receiving him as his son rather than as a servant. And he celebrates.
Unlike the other stories, there is a note of discord in the third story. The young man’s brother is unhappy with his brother’s behavior and with his father’s celebration of his return. While it might not be comfortable for us to admit it, many of us probably identify with the older brother. The sheep and coin didn’t intentionally get lost, but the younger son made his own choices. He brought his problems onto himself. To receive him back with open arms doesn’t seem right to us. Yet that is what the father in this story does. And our discomfort comes in part from knowing that all of the stories, and this one most notably, portrays God to us.
In the words of Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, “An essential part of God's character is about extending mercy to the undeserving -- not only those who happen to stumble up it, but an active program of seeking out the hurting and oppressed, the blind and the imprisoned (4:18-19). That is the message of the cross, the message of active love.”
“We disciples must become like our Master. We must have the
same passion that he has: ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was
lost’ (19:10). Discipleship demands that if we have lost this passion we must
regain it. If we lack this passion we must seek it from Jesus.”
Seeking,
Searching,
Scouring the hills,
Sweeping the house,
Actively intent on finding.
And, upon finding, breaking out in unrestrained joy –
Joy that invites friends to a party,
Joy that rejoices over finding and rescuing.
The joy of a shepherd over his found sheep,
The joy of a housewife over a found coin,
The joy of a father over a wayward son, now returned home.
Searching diligently,
Rejoicing loudly and passionately,
That is what discipleship is and demands of us.
For we, too, have been found by God.
We, too, have been the focus of a search-and-rescue mission.
We, too, have been the honored guest at God's party.
We, too, have become the searchers and rescuers and partyers.