THE KIRK OF KILDAIRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CARY, NC

www.kirkofkildaire.org

A sermon preached by Joseph Welker, Jr.

The Love that Will Not Let Us Go

Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

March 18, 2007

His son didn't know did he? He just didn't know how much his Father loved him… this son we have labeled as the prodigal-the wasteful, reckless, ungrateful, irresponsible son… He didn't know how it must have broken his Dad's heart that day when this son came to his father to wish him dead.
"Give me my share of the property" - let me cash in on my inheritance Dad… I'm leaving home and you won't ever see me again. (See you, see you, wouldn't want to be you!)

Why he wanted to run away, we don't know. Maybe it was the rules of the house that seemed oppressive to him. After all the older- aka - responsible brother reveals that there were rules to living in this house-you do your chores, you work the fields, you come to meals with the family, you go to church… Maybe this prodigal, irresponsible son had just had enough of it. Maybe he realized he could never be as good as his older brother, so why try? Maybe, he thought he would never be able to live up to all the expectations of his Father. Maybe he just thought the grass was greener on the other side.

So, he is ready to pack his bags and try life all on his own. Go to the big city and make a name for himself. What he didn't know, (or if he knew, he didn't care) is how this was breaking his Dad's heart… for his Dad… his Dad loved him more than he would ever know. It took all the love he could muster to let his baby boy go… and let him learn about life the hard way. I'm sure it about broke his heart.

This irresponsible son didn't know how much his Dad loved him… even when he hit rock bottom… losing his nest egg… no job except to feed pigs (What a job for a Jewish boy)… and then eat their leftovers… was eating with the pigs… no one noticed him… he was homeless and invisible to the people in the city. He was dirty and smelly. (Like one of those you pass and avoid eye contact with on the streets of Raleigh or New York… they are someone's son or daughter too, you know). Who knew he came from a loving family? He didn't even know. Even at rock bottom the best he hopes for is to swallow some pride… go home… beg for forgiveness…. With the hope… with the slim hope that his Father might… might… hire him on for bread and board along with the other immigrant workers on the farm.

He had no idea… he just didn't know… until… until on the dirt road leading back home he sees his Dad running toward him… even when he sees his Dad running, he must have wondered what the first words would be.

Would they be words of anger? "Son… what are you doing home? This is not your home. You already disowned me… You made your bed, now lie in it. Just turn around and get out of here… you have no home here. You gave that up a long time ago."

Surely this younger son was surprised. He didn't even get a chance to say he was sorry… (What someone called an act of premeditated mercy). Before he can say anything, his Dad is hugging him… kissing him… and telling his other workers to heat up the grill and bring out the angus steaks, filet mignon… This is a time to party. Party!

You see… love never really did let him go, did it-not completely. Love was simply waiting for the son to come home. Some have called this a "prodigal" love-irresponsible, irrational, wasteful… but isn't that what true love is. Surely now, this son finally realized how deeply and dearly he was loved. If only he had known it earlier. He learned this the hard way.

You know, the funny thing is that the older son didn't really know how much the father loved him either, did he? Not really. He thought love was something you earned by obedience. Make the right grades… do your work as expected…go to church, join the scouts, go to school, and you will be praised… loved. Surely his Dad was proud of him… and counted on him. But loved him? Well, why not.

He did what his Dad asked… except for this one time… when his Dad had to go outside the house and begged him to come in to join the party for his brother… (But that was asking a lot, don't you think?) He wanted both sons at the party… where love and joy filled the room. He loved both. Loved them more than they ever knew.

Sadly, the older brother did not understand love either. He thought love was something you earned or deserved… When the father begs him to come in, you hear a hurt and angry older son say:
"For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give a dinner for my friends. This other son of yours wasted your money on prostitutes. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast."

The father tries to help him understand, "My son, you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead and is alive. He was lost and is now found!"

And there Jesus leaves us wondering if the other Son will ever realize that his Father loved him too. His father hoped he would also come to his senses (perhaps say to his dad, "I'm sorry, I was a self righteous jerk.") and come join in the party.

This story was called by Charles Dickens as the greatest story ever told. You remember why Jesus told the story, don't you?

Jesus told it because he was being criticized for hanging around with the wrong people. The dregs of society-tax collectors, , sex offenders, adulterers, and sinners-have been coming to Jesus (Do you see the kind of people who have been coming to Jesus' church?) and the religiously responsible leaders have begun to wonder about Jesus and his message. If you know someone by their friends… then what does this tell you about Jesus? And what about his message-you have to wonder if Jesus sees anyone as beyond God's mercy and love? The Pharisees and Scribes-or at least some of them-are shocked by the behavior. Eventually it is just this kind of teaching that will get him killed. Associating with the wrong people-hanging out with sinners and prostitutes-filling their heads with all sorts of messages about how God loves even them… will lead other rabbis to report him to the Committee on Ministry and to the Presbytery for discipline… and if they can pull it off… it will lead to permanent excommunication by death.

At the heart of the parable are these challenging questions:
Do the prodigals of the world know how loved they are by God?
Do the godly people know how loved the prodigals are and how just because God loves prodigals does not mean God loves them less? Will the godly people ever see how their faithful obedience can lead to a self righteousness that blinds them to the deep love God has for them too. And are godly people ready to be joyous when love reaches out even to sinners and welcomes them home to the heart of God?

One of my favorite stories I ever heard Tony Campolo reminds me of the joy and grace this brings to our God.

He tells about a time he was vacationing in Hawaii. Because of the time change he found himself awake and wandering the streets at 3:30 a.m. in the morning. He was hoping to find something to eat. The only place open was a sleazy, greasy-spoon dive of a diner. The fat guy behind the counter came over and asked him, "What d'ya want?" He told him, "a cup of coffee and a donut.' While Tony was sitting at the counter sipping coffee and munching a donut, the doors suddenly swung open and in marched a group of 8 or 9 loud, provocative prostitutes. They plop down at the counter and Tony finds himself uncomfortably seated among them.

I wonder if he was uncomfortable with visions of having his picture in the local paper: "Baptist preacher hangs with Honolulu Hookers"… Not good for a preacher's career.

Tony was just about to make his getaway when he overheard the woman beside him say, "Tomorrow's my birthday. I'm gonna be 39." To which her friend nastily replied, "So what do you want from me? A birthday party? Huh? You want me to get a cake and sing happy birthday to you?" The woman next to Tony says,
"Come on. Why do you have to be so mean? I was just telling you it was my birthday. I don't want anything from you, I mean, why should you give me a birthday party? I've never had a birthday party my whole life. Why should I have one now?"

Tony says, "When I heard that, I made a decision. I sat and waited until the woman had left and I asked the guy from behind the counter:"Do they come in here every night?" "Yeah!" he answered." The one right next to me, does she come here every night?" "Yeah!" he said. "That's Agnes. Yeah, she comes in here every night. Why d'ya want to know?" "Because I heard her say that tomorrow is her birthday… What do you think about us throwing a birthday party for her-right here-tomorrow night?"

A smile slowly crossed his chubby face and he answered with measured delight.' "That's great! I like it! That's a great idea!"

So the idea of a birthday party for Agnes was born. He called his wife in the back in the kitchen and the three of them got all caught up in planning and preparing for a birthday party for Agnes. Tony planned the decorations. Harry, the man behind the counter, insisted that he make the Cake.

At 2:30 a.m. the next morning, Tony was back with the decorations. He had crepe paper, balloons and a big sign that said, "Happy Birthday Agnes." Harry's wife had gotten the word out to invite all of her friends. By 3:15, every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. "It was wall to wall prostitutes, and me!" said Tony.

At 3:30 on the dot, the door of the diner swung open and in came Agnes and her friend. Tony had prepared everyone to shout in unison, "Surprise! Happy Birthday, Agnes!!" And they all sang "Happy Birthday to you." He says, as we came to the end of the singing, "Happy birthday, dear Agnes, Happy birthday to you," her eyes moistened. When the cake with candles was carried out, she broke down and cried.

Harry gruffly mumbled, "Blow out the candles, Agnes! Come on! Blow out the candles! If you don't blow out the candles, I'm gonna hafta blow out the candles."

Then he handed her a knife and told her, "Cut the cake, Agnes. Yo, Agnes, we all want some cake."

Agnes looked down at the cake. Then without taking her eyes off it, she slowly and softly said, "Look, Harry, is it all right with you if I… I mean is it okay if I kind of… what I want to ask you is… is it okay if I keep the cake a little while? I mean is it all right if we don't eat it right away?" Harry told her, "Sure , it's okay. Keep the cake. It's your cake. Take it home if you want to." "Can I?" she asked. Then looking at Tony she said, "I live just down the street a couple of doors. I want to take the cake home and show it to my mother, okay? I'll be right back. Honest!"

She picked up the cake, and carrying it like it was the Holy Grail, walked slowly toward the door. As we all stood motionless, she left. "When the door closed there was a stunned silence in thie place. Tony says, "Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying, 'What do you say we pray?"

Tony admits it was an odd thing to do… but it also felt like the right thing to do. He prayed for Agnes, he prayed for her salvation. He prayed that her life would be changed and that God would be good to her."

When he finished, Harry leaned over the counter and said, "Hey! You never told me you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to?" Tony said, "In one of those moments when just the right words came, Tony answered: "I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for whores at 3:30 a.m. in the morning." Harry waited a moment and then he answered. "No you don't. There's no church like that. If there was, I'd join it. I'd join a church like that." [1]

Reading the story Jesus told of the Father who loved his two sons… a father who finds his greatest joy when the one who was lost and alone in the world is now found… tells me that Jesus came to create a church like that. Read the New Testament and you'll read about a Jesus who welcomed all sorts of sinners -all kinds of left out people into his family of faith. Many said they weren't good enough for God. He had a passionate love for them. The tax collectors and sinners loved him because here was one religious man who would actually eat with them… he was not too good to spend time with them…. to tell them that God loves them more than they will ever know… that God is ready anytime to welcome them home… and when they get home… there will be a joyful party waiting for them… Based on the end of the story, what Christ wants to know is this? Do we want to go to that party? A party where we celebrate the joy our God must feel when even one person who was lost and alone in this world with no one to care for him or her… is found? We're invited, you know. So, what do you say… are you ready to go? Nothing would make God happier you know. Amen.

[1] Campolo, "Let me Tell you a Story" p. 216 ff