Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² 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. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ He would gladly have filled himself with^[c] the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ 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! ¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ ²⁰ 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. ²¹ 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.’ ²² 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. ²³ And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. ²⁵ “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. ²⁷ He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ ³¹ Then the father^[e] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³² 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 15:11-32

Oh…..the story of the “Forgiving Father/Prodigal Son” is one of my favorite parables. Whenever we are down, and are wondering why G-d would care about us, we need to turn to Luke 15:11 – 32 and read this text over and over again.   The image of the father running to greet the younger son is an image that should stay in our minds every day. G-d is the type of G-d who runs to us and wraps his arms around us each time we return with a penitent heart and ask for forgiveness. And the best part is this – there is no reason for G-d to do this – we have done nothing to deserve it – it is just G-d’s nature to be loving and forgiving. And, if we stray again and again, each time we return, G-d runs to us and greet us and says welcome home. Why wouldn’t this parable be a favorite?

Pastor Dave

“Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, ²⁶ “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ ³¹ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. ³³ So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. ³⁴ “Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” Luke 14:25-35

I have often thought about this saying about salt and its saltiness and wondered exactly what it had to do with the preceding verses. But, after some time and thought and reflection, it seems to me that it all has to do with relationships – relationship at least with Jesus. Under the title of the Cost of Discipleship, Jesus tells two stories about beginning something without having made adequate plans for its completion. The meaning for discipleship is this – it is a warning not to begin a relationship with Jesus if we are not prepared to follow it through.  G-d has laid out a redemptive plan through Jesus Christ – and G-d will be faithful in G-d’s plan.

What G-d is asking you and me is to be prepared to follow Jesus and continue that relationship through the good times, and through the bad times in our lives.  For, if we give up on G-d in the rough times of our lives, we are no better than salt that has lost its saltiness. G-d will stay true to us – will be stay true to G-d?

Pastor Dave