Read Luke 14-15 ~ Today you
will read the Parable of the Prodigal Family (quick aside, the word ‘prodigal’
means ‘wasteful’ or ‘extravagant’ or ‘lavish’ ~ note how each of those words
might have a positive or negative reaction for you. I see ‘wasteful’ as negative and ‘lavish’ as
sometimes appropriate and appreciated).
When I read this parable, I don’t just think it was the younger son who
is prodigal, it is the whole family! The younger son wastes money and relationship
with his family; the older son wastes time trying to prove his usefulness to
the father and ends up with such resentment seething off him. I can feel the older son’s heat coming from
the page; the father is lavish (even wasteful) in how he treats both sons. Talk about a family that could use a
good therapist.
The question for you is where
are you prodigal today? How does
that question even sit in you? If
prodigal is always bad, then you may never want to admit you are
‘wasteful’. This could be in good/grace filled ways or
wasteful ways ~ because both live in me.
I encourage you to read the parable several times. Try to set aside all the pastoral sermons
you’ve heard that tell you want you should think about this story. Try to receive the words as they meet you lavishly
where you are ~ just as the parent goes out to meet both the younger and older
sons. May these words awaken within you
new insights and questions to explore with your life today. Amen.