The Readings
The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.
While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So Jesus told them this parable:
"There was a man who had two sons. 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. 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. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 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. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 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! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' 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. 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.' 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. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 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. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 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.'"
The Sermon
Reconciliation
This story from Joshua is really a story about reconciliation. When Moses died, Joshua took over as the leader of the Hebrews. Joshua's task was to lead the people on the final part of the journey to the promised land. It had been a very long journey. The people had not been loyal to God and they had been forced to wander the desert for forty years.
In this passage the punishment is over and they are now reconciled to God. They are crossing the Jordan river and about to march on Jericho. The promise has been kept.
In this passage from Luke, the pharisees and scribes are grumbling again about the company Jesus is keeping. He is once again hanging out with people of questionable nature. Known sinners!
So, Jesus tells them a story. It is the story of the prodigal son. This wasteful son takes his portion of his inheritance and squanders it on wicked things. When he is eventually broke, he takes the only job he can find is feeding pigs in the countryside. The young man is hungry. He is desperate. He is broken.
With his tail between his legs he returns to his father. He is ready to face the consequences, whatever they are. To his surprise his father welcomes him with open arms. The good brother, the one who had always towed the line is bitter. Where is the party for him. He had been good and faithful all along.
The father says to the faithful son, “You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life. He was lost and now he has been found.
Through this story Jesus was telling the pharisees what they needed to hear. God is here for all of us. God is always waiting for us to come home and when we do come home God rejoices. We are the ones who wander away from God and when we come to our senses and come home with our tail between our legs we are embraced by God's love.
What about those of us who aren't much for wandering. Should we resent those who did stray and distanced themselves from God. No, we have been rewarded all along. Whenever you feel you are in God's presence you are rewarded. Rejoice in Him and be glad in it.
Amen
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