The Land and Preaching: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The Book: And the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." ...Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons..." Then the father said, "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." - Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Land: Since Luke 15 contains three parables, it might seem odd to write about "the land" as it impacts our reading and understanding of this text. But let us remember that the land is more than country; it is climate, custom and culture as well. The parables here, as all parables, are loaded with the stuff of life.

One interesting bit of conjecture as to the location for the telling of this parable grows out of the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes about Jesus' choice of dining companions. Was Jesus dining in the home of Matthew at Capernaum? There is certainly the backdrop of the "other side" for the telling of a story about a young man who goes to a far (Gentile) country and resorts to feeding swine. That country was just across the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum.

Special cultural aspects of this parable that might enrich preaching this Sunday are: the unthinkable request of the younger son for his share of the inheritance before the father's death; the younger son's desperate condition; his improbable choice of an occupation; the unexpected welcome of the father; the lavish gifts of a robe, a ring, sandals, and the fatted calf; the scorn of the elder son for his father and brother; the refusal to welcome his brother and join the party; the release of the elder's pent-up anger toward his father; and the pleading of the loving father for like-minded welcome, forgiveness, and celebration.

Given the culture of the day, the chances of this kind of outcome are small. A young, rebellious son would be stoned; an insolent, elder son would be equally shamed and shunned.

Lesson for Preaching: The thrust of this familiar parable is centered on the behavior of the father. While attention is often focused on the younger son, there are two sons that are equally lost in their relationship to their father. Yet, it is with neither of the sons that the lesson of the parable rests. The father is loving and forgiving with the sons. The challenge is for the sons to be loving and forgiving as the father. Certainly, this is the call of Jesus to the religious folk of his day. In relation to sinners, they are expected to be like God the Father in welcoming, loving, and forgiving.