One point of this story we have just heard is pretty clear: No matter how grim our self-view is, no matter how sullied we feel by our choices in life, God our Creator sees us as cause for a banquet. God looks upon us each day, even the days we are kicking ourselves for something done or something left undone, and says anew, let me enfold you in love for the thought of that pleases me no end.
That message is tough to top, but since all Jesus’ parables have many layers of meaning, let’s look for more in this one. Do you know what the adjective “prodigal” means? We might guess its means “wayward,” since this young son was wayward or “penitent,” since he came home. “Prodigal” actually means “wasteful.” The young son is called prodigal because he allegedly wasted his inheritance. When you think about it though, he didn’t really waste it. He bought very specific things with it: the company of prostitutes, booze and food! There is someone in this story, however, guilty of grievous waste: not the younger son, but the older son. He had the company of his loving Father at all times but totally failed to appreciate it. If we take the Father in this story to be God, he had the ultimate blessing, God’s nearness, but was too busy feeling jealous to notice.
I know I’ve listened to this story in the past and identified with this older son’s complaint. Sure, sometimes we make bad choices and want the assurance given through the grand reception for the younger son, but other times we make good choices, and we want some reward for that. Who here at one time or another hasn’t thought: “You know, I’ve done a lot of things right. Why aren’t I getting better results? I’m praying. I’m studying the Bible. I’m going to church. So why don’t I feel like my life is on track? Why hasn’t God killed a goat for me and my friends lately?”
When we’re feeling that way, maybe, just maybe, like the older son, we are looking right past bounty that God has bestowed on us. We have God’s promise that God is tending to all our needs, better than the lilies of the field are gilded and better than the robins of the sky are adorned. We need eyes to see those blessings, lest we end up spending all our days pouting outside God’s banquet.
So where might we look for these abundant blessings? I won’t suggest looking under the pews, but you might look in them. One of the richest blessings God has given us is the gift of community; we are all intended to be blessings to one another. One of the primary ways we can bless each other is to name the gifts we see in one another. We can help each other have eyes to see. St. Paul is part of this grand community, and in today’s Epistle lesson, he reminds us that we all share a gift of tremendous moment. We all share this: God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, on the small scale of our own lives and on the large scale of world affairs. We have the motive and the means to bring people in conflict together to learn from one another and to affirm that they are all children of the one same God, that they all need the salve that only their Creator can give to make them well, and that these truths are greater than anything dividing them. We have the motive and the means to heal the world!
As Anglicans (descendents from the Church of England), we have an inheritance that is particularly useful for this mission. As Dean Baker discussed last week, under Queen Elizabeth I, our tradition was intentionally made a “big tent,” big enough to house both Catholics and Protestants. We are practiced at bringing people together around common worship and helping them to learn from one another instead of fearing one another.
You may fear that the folks known as “Primates,” the leaders of various Anglican churches around the world might change that. Last week, Dean Baker talked about the prospect that their actions could severe interaction between so-called “liberal” voices and so-called “conservative” voices. He and I were talking about this last week, and we decided that the Primates don’t have that power. The only real power the Primates have is the power to capture the press’ attention. No matter how they affect the shape of the way church polities interact internationally… no matter how their stance affects the choice of American churches to either stay in or leave the Episcopal Church, the Primates cannot stop liberals and conservatives from talking to each other.
You see, talking to each other, and loving each other is our baptismal birthright. It is Jesus’ wish for us. The mind of Christ will direct the body of Christ. Today’s parable makes clear that all are invited to God’s banquet, and the people of God know this truth. It can’t be taken away from them. The only thing at stake in present Anglican controversies is whether the Primates will lead the church into reconciliation or be left catching up with the church. That is their only choice, because God’s children will be reconciled.
The Kingdom of Heaven has come near. In Jesus, it came so near that people could see it in his eyes, and hear it in his voice, and feel it in their hearts. What are you called to do so that more and more and more people can feel the Kingdom of Heaven ?