NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2023
Sunday is Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day, to all the fathers, and those serving in paternal roles.
The scripture text this Sunday is a familiar passage from Luke 15, most of us know as “The Parable of The Prodigal Son.” Years ago, I came to believe the appropriate name for this story of Jesus should be “The Story of A Loving Father.”
Jesus, as a master storyteller, knew His audience as well as the condition of each heart. When Jesus presented this now familiar story, tax collectors and those considered sinners in the crowd drew to hear what Jesus had to say. But there were also religion elites in the audience who came with grumbling voices and critical hearts. So, Jesus masterfully crafted a story that addressed exactly what those considered the outsider and those who considered themselves the “insiders” (religious elites) needed to hear.
More than once, Jesus would conclude a teaching or story saying, “Let them who have ears to hear, hear!” For those truly “hearing” this story, would have realized there are two pigpens in this story. The obvious one is in a distant country where the prodigal son ended up because of his wasteful, foolish choices. But the obedient older brother was also in a pigpen at home because of his mindset. He was pious because of his external obedience to his father, but in his heart, he was wallowing in a pigpen of resentful self-righteousness.
It was two very different pigpens, but the consistency of Jesus’s story is found in the radical and extravagant love of the Father toward both of his children that never changes. God is still speaking in 2023. I hope on this Father’s Day, we have ears to hear from God, A Father of Radical and Extravagant Love!
Start by joining us for worship at Covenant this Sunday, in-person, by Zoom or Facebook Livestream. My sermon will be “God, A Father of Radical and Extravagant Love!” based on “Luke 15:11-32.”
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