Forgive as...

 21 Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' (Lk. 15)

In this pointed parable Jesus is clear about how God deals with we flawed and imperfect individuals.  

And, you can be sure that every single Jewish ear listening would have totally understood the not so subtle message being given.  They certainly would not have liked it.  Nor agreed!  But they would have gotten the  message loud and clear.

The youngest son’s request was shameful and inexcusable!  Because his request was for his inheritance, of land and money, due him at his father’s death. 

It was, for all intent and purpose, saying to his father:  'You are worth more to me dead.  I would rather have you dead, than alive, so I can have  what you worked a lifetime for.'  

With an addendum: So I don’t have to work any more.
  
It was a slap in the face to his father’s life long love for him.

What may not be clear, to some of you, is that land in the Hebrew culture was considered God’s greatest blessing.  It was, you might say, sacred.  To be treasured!  Not squandered!   

And, what we are told here is that the youngest son squandered his inheritance in quite unacceptable ways.

The other huge issue here is the complete disrespect — dishonor — the son was expressing to his father.  

These issues are extremely serious.  Most especially in the Hebrew culture.  Not to be taken lightly!  

What is even more astounding is that the father did not immediately disown this son.  Banishing him from, not only his property/home; but to the larger community as well.   

All you have to do is read Leviticus law to understand how disobedient children were punished.  

Stoning was the popular punishment of the day!  

An yet, in this story, the father freely gives the son what he has asked for. No question asked.  At least as far as we are told.

There is not doubt that this father’s standing, in the community, fell to rock bottom at such news.  

No question about it.  He had made a huge — glaring — MISTAKE! 

So Jesus has set the scene! 

Everyone listening understood the extreme seriousness of the younger son’s sin.  Un-for-give-able.  

And by the way the father’s unforgivable actions as well!

Then the unbelievable comes from Jesus’ mouth.

It was at the point in the story when the father sees his wayward son returning home.  

It say: the father runs toward him with open arms in welcome.  

                                                      

No questions asked!

 No accusations of judgment!                         

                 No demands for an apology!

Instead, the father gives him a precious ring and the finest robe.  He has the finest calf, the one that could have been used for an altar sacrifice, killed and roasted.  And the party begins!

Nothing, absolutely nothing, about the father’s actions would have made any since at all to the listening crowd! 

That son had violated scared rules! The father had done the same!

A most appalling story!

I dare say, that even in our society today eyebrows would also raise at such a story.  Who among us rewards disrespectful behavior with an extravagant celebration, with the finest food? 

And yet regardless of the ridicule and pointing fingers, the father defied all the precious Hebrew rules! And cared for his son and is welfare! 

Regardless of what anyone thought, or said, he found heart felt joy at his son’s return.  He loved his son first and foremost!  Cultural rules be damned!

That is how God forgive and cares for you and me!

All of this reminds me of a Country Western Song titled 'A Father’s Love.' Where the little boy gets in trouble at school.  When he gets home, and has to tell his dad, he knows he is in big trouble. But he tells his dad!  Here is how the father reacts: 

 “Let me tell you a story about a father’s love. A father doesn’t love his children every-now-and-then. It’s a love without end!  Amen!

The Hebrew community did not received Jesus’ parable with an Amen! (Which means:  Let it be so!)   

And by the way, it was that same law-based mentality that had Jesus crucified. The same people who stood watching, and hearing, first hand Jesus, crying out to God, calling for their forgiveness.  

“Father, forgive them for they not what they do!”

The message is so clear to me!  However, to be fair, I don’t claim to know the Hebrew mind.  Nor do I understand why they came to believe as that did.  And I most certainly can not possibly comprehend the kind of shame, or dishonor, that the younger son brought upon himself and his father.

However I have a tiny idea about the strength it took for a human being, nailed to a cross, to call for the forgiveness of his accusers, and the Roman solders who hammed in the nails.  

I have to believe that any person, reading this blog, knows how extremely difficult it would be to forgive those who have caused us so much pain and heartbreak.

And yet! the historical request does still echoes down through ages: Do the same!  
           Do the same as I have done!  

He doesn’t ask us to hang nailed to a cross!  He doesn’t even ask us to be sin-less-ly perfect!

He simply asks us to love and forgive our imperfect, and flawed, neighbor.  As he loves and forgives our own flawed imperfectness.

11 Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." ' 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. 25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 31 Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 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.(Luke 15)