“The Least of These” Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 (Year C Lent 4) ESV
Introduction
Last year a former homeless man was buried at the prestigious St. John’s Episcopal Church, across from the White House. St. John’s is called the “church of presidents” since nearly every U.S. leader since James Madison has worshiped there. In an unusual memorial, former members of Congress and prominent professionals attended the burial of William Wallace Brown, Jr. Someone had swindled Brown out of his house 15 years ago, and he had lived on the streets ever since. One Sunday morning he spotted, then president, George H. W. Bush entering the church and asked the former president to pray for him. Bush looked at him for a moment and said, “No. Come inside with us and pray for yourself.” After that, William Brown became a regular attendee at the 8:00 a.m. service and always placed a crumpled dollar bill in the silver offering plate. At his funeral, Dolph Hatfield, a member of the church who befriended Brown, said: “the homeless and the most important are one and the same.” Hatfield introduced himself to Brown after another parishioner snubbed him. He became Brown’s best friend, inviting him for a meal or taking him grocery shopping after church. The pastor who conducted the service said that Brown, “really understood that the kingdom of God is for all of us. It doesn’t matter about ethnic background, race, or class — all the things that we allow to divide us, but that in God’s eyes are not really important.”
Pharisees Grumbling
In the first part of today’s reading we see the Pharisees grumbling over the fact that Jesus welcomed sinners and even ate with them. The Pharisees were a group of Jews who saw themselves as keepers of the moral codes and laws.
The Jewish people had gone through a long period of decline in Temple Worship and obedience to the Law. Largely in an effort to restore and maintain Judaic worship the Pharisees were rigid keepers of the Law. They were severe in their style and they harshly criticized those who they looked upon as sinners.
Like so many legalists in all generations, the Pharisees were very well intentioned but horribly off track. In their pursuit of pure living they abandoned the pure love of God for the empty love of the law. In their effort to maintain true worship they neglected true worship in favor of judgment, condemnation, and in many cases outright cruelty.
They only welcomed those who looked just like they did… those who thought just like they did… and those who worshipped God just the same way they did...
The problem of the Pharisee was largely that of legalism. Erwin Lutzer wrote, “legalists keep the law for self-glory, or to merit some reward; they do not keep it because it expresses the desire of their heart.” The problem of the Pharisee had little to do with intent and everything to do with attitude.
Forsaking the inward presence and love of God for an outwardly right appearance they became, as Jesus put it in Matthew 23:27, “hypocrites… like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”
The law of God reveals to us our need for God’s grace. Has any among us been able to live a life free of mistakes? Have any of us been able to love always the way that should? I sure hope that I’m not the only person here who has to say no to those questions!
Psalms 143:2 says, “Enter not into judgment… for no one living is righteous.” We are all imperfect people. It occurs to me that the hallmarks of humanity are marked imperfection and immeasurable capacity.
People are imperfect and when we make the mistake of the Pharisee we wrongly assume that God is somehow pleased by outward appearance. When we make the mistake of the Pharisee, we judge others for imperfections that we ourselves may even be guilty of.
And even if we aren’t guilty of that for which we judge others, we do something much worse… we display the arrogance of the Pharisees which caused them to condemn the Prince of Peace for welcoming everyone, regardless of who they were.
Matthew 7:3 says, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Today let us continue to embrace the grace of God and reject the judgment of the Pharisee.
Lord, I crawled across the barrenness to you with my empty cup… uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment… If only I had known you better I’d have come running with a bucket.
Let us continue to embrace the refreshing waters of the grace of God. Empty legalism does not please God. He is most honored when we open ourselves to His grace. He is glorified most fully when we are filled with His abundant grace.
The Son Who Stayed
In the second half of today’s reading Jesus goes on to tell the story of the prodigal son. He tells of a man who had two sons. The more rebellious of the sons chose to take his inheritance early, while his father was still alive.
The rebellious son moved far away and squandered all of his inheritance in self-indulgent living. His situation became so bad in fact that he became completely destitute and found himself caring for pigs and even considering eating the food that the pigs were eating.
For a young Jewish man this was the most humiliating thing imaginable. Orthodox Jews wouldn’t even think of coming contact with pigs, much less eating their food. The rebellious son was ruined and humiliated.
It was then that he came to his senses and said to himself, “My father has employees who live better than I am living. Maybe, just maybe, if I return to my father he will show mercy on me and let me work for him as a hired hand, for I am no longer worthy to be called his son”
And while he was still far off his father ran to him. Embraced him and welcomed him back and he even gave a feast in honor of his return. The father showed the same kind of love to his rebellious son that God shows to every one of us when we stray.
But you’ll recall that there were two sons in the story. While there are many lessons to be found in the parable of the prodigal son, today I’d like to focus on the other brother, the one who stayed.
From the father who showed him grace and we learn of the outrageous nature of the love of God. From the son who had left and squandered his inheritance on wild living, we learn that it is never to late to return… never to late to ask for forgiveness… and that while our status with God may change, we may become estranged for a time… our relationship with God never changes… we are always his child.
But what of the son who stayed. Often when dealing with this passage teachers of scripture will only focus on the frustration that was felt by he son who stayed when his father rejoiced over the return of the rebellious son. They will chastise him for his lack of compassion for his brother. I’d rather not chastise him today, though, I’d rather praise for him staying. I’d rather learn from his faithfulness.
I remember when I began my journey of faith. I remember hearing the great testimonies of men and women who had been through horrific things in their lives. They would tell of how when things were the most bleak in their lives that it was then that they sensed the tug of God on their hearts. They were like the prodigal son and they were celebrated for their return.
I remember wondering, “Is God more honored by there lives than mine?” Is God actually more pleased by the person who strays but returns than He is with the one who stays? Upon studying this passage it would be easy enough to fall under the mistaken impression that God is somehow more honored by the person who strays and then returns than by the person who remains faithful. But this is not the case.
God is full of mercy and shows grace those who stray, but He also pours out His favor upon those who are faithful. In the Old Testament book of Numbers 12:7 Moses is highly regarded by God for his faithfulness.
In Luke 19:17 Jesus says, “Well done” to a faithful servant. Faithfulness is a trait highly regarded in the scriptures just as it is highly regarded in life. While the prodigal son left, the older brother remained faithful.
John Oxenham wrote, “Is your place a small place? Tend it with care!—He set you there. Is your place a large place? Guard it with care!—He set you there. Whatever your place, it is Not yours alone, but his who set you there.”
God has not called you to be perfect. We see this truth reflected clearly in the prodigal son. God is, however, calling you to be faithful, like the son who stayed. I have heard say that they have great faith. They speak in absolute terms when it comes to knowing God and His will for their life.
Sometimes we have that kind of faith, but not always. Sometimes life situations cause us to doubt and sometimes we question. While we may not always be filled with unquestionable faith, we can… and ought to… remain faithful.
When hard times come our way, we can faithfully trust God. When blessings come, we can be faithful to thank God for them. And when we don’t understand or are confused, we can cast our fears and anxieties on God, whose faithfulness knows no end.
Psalms 62:2 says, “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”
I’m sure that some of you are like the faithful son who stayed. Sure, you aren’t perfect, but you have remained faithful. And while I love the prodigal son who strayed, and I’m encouraged to know that God accepts us in spite of our shortcomings, I applaud your faithfulness and I marvel at the beauty of your story.
Conclusion
1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
The Pharisees lived lives which were only clean on the outside. They judged Jesus for welcoming the least of these… the destitute, the unclean, the sinful, and the outcast.
Our Heavenly Father welcomes us regardless of our failures. We can never stray so far that he will not run to us with open arms when we return. And He is honored by our faithfulness.
Let us pray.
Divine Father, you are rich in mercy and full of grace. Fill our hearts with compassion for all of your children. Renew us in faithfulness. Refresh our love for one another. We honor you today God with our entire lives. Amen.
