The Prodigal Son Continues

"Dream God's dream Holy Spirit help us dream of a world where there is justice and where everyone is free. To build and grow and love and to simply have enough.  The world will change when we dream God's dream."

This refrain keep going through my mind the last day or so.  It is a song that was introduced to me about ten years ago.  The song, in total, sends a powerful message to the world today. 

In a world where there is so much hatred and tension and waring the parable of the Prodigal Son is a perfect example how the world is suppose to be.  

Which is not at all like the world we live in.

The parable is about what God meant the world to be like.  

Jesus uses this story to tell us the truth about human tendency to move away from Gods intention.  To rather seek immediate gratification at any cost. Even if you break your father's -- and most certianly your mother's --  heart in the doing.

Even if you break the social custom and religious rules.

Even if you leave your brother to do your part of the family business.

You just disregard it all for your own happiness and gratification.  

And the only one who seems to be bothered about it all is your older brother. Who react in the typical manner of any human ego.  Who calls for "fairness."

The real world spelled out in one little story with so many implications.

The focus of this dream is the father's action.

God's dream was alive right smack in the middle of it all the messiness.

Just like God's dream is living right smack in the middle of all the crap we face every minute of each day right here in the year 2022.

I share with you Michael B. Curry"s word about the dream in his commentary:

"As this story unfolds, it is clear that the parable is more about the determined, compassion, infinite providence of God than it is about the ways of God's prodigal children." 

Such a vision of the vastness and depth of the love, grace, compassion and justice of God lies behind Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son.  This parable points to God’s deepest desire, greatest yearning, and passionate dream for all pf God’s children and the whole of God’s creation…..It is God’s dream to renew, reconcile, repair, and restore the creation;  that is the magnetic power in the parable of the Prodigal Son pulling the prodigal back home.....(Feasting on the Word, Year C Vol. 2)

I believe that God is constantly moving about in our world situations today making the changes needed.

But our simple -- limited -- mind are not able to take it all in.

The best news is God understands us and loves us despite ourselves.