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21 March Lent 4

Very Rev Lawrie Hampton

The Readings

Joshua 5: 9-12 The lectionary delicately omits the first part of this chapter, which tells in some detail of the circumcision of those born during the forty years of the Exodus. Both the mass circumcision and the celebration of the Passover represent a new stage of the Israelites’ journey, now that the produce of the land is available to them, and the supply of manna has ceased. Gilgal comes from a Hebrew word meaning “to roll”; it is the name of several locations; it “is used generally for a circle of stones having religious significance.”

Psalm 32 Like Psalm 51, this penitential Psalm is by tradition attributed to David following his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Whether or not this is so, it describes the joy
of those who are forgiven, and teaches us that penitence is the condition on which forgiveness is granted. It is said to have been a favourite of Augustine, “who often read this Psalm with weeping heart and eyes, and, before his death had it written on the wall which was over against his sick-bed, so that he might be exercised and comforted by it in his sickness.” Luther called it one of the Pauline Psalms.

2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 One of the best-known passages in all of Paul’s writings. Lyrical and passionate, it enshrines a number of doctrines central to his teaching: the idea of being in Christ, and its consequences; reconciliation with God as occurring on God’s own initiative; forgiveness of sin; the call to be ambassadors for Christ in his work of reconciliation; and the atoning work of Christ, the bearer of our sins.

Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 The lectionary reading gives us the general introduction to three of our Lord’s parables, and then the longest and most complex of the three, the Prodigal Son, or as Helmut Thielicke memorably called it, the Parable of the Waiting Father. This parable, so well known, is full of hidden treasures. I am grateful to Kenneth Bailey for his exposition of the parable in his twin books, Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes, published together as one volume in 1983. I was introduced to this book a few years ago now, and I wish that I had had it available during the years of my parish ministry. To anyone studying or preaching on the Gospel according to Luke, and in particular on its parables, this is an invaluable companion.

Preaching

Is there anything more to be said about the parable of the prodigal son? When this passage appeared in the lectionary several years ago, Shirley Fergusson and I decided to present it in a different way. We both did a careful study of Kenneth Bailey’s work on the parable, and spent some time working out what we would do with it in sermon time. On the Sunday she took the part of the younger son, and I of the older son. Sermon time was devoted to an unscripted (but carefully prepared!) dramatic presentation of what the two brothers might have said to each other when the party was over, and their father had retired. We managed to work up considerable passion! We also made sure that our presentation shed light on the parable and on what it says to us who read it.

Another year, I wrote a “television” interview with the father and his two sons. This was presented to the congregation in sermon time, fully scripted this time, with members of the congregation playing the four parts. They sat at a table in front of the congregation. They had the script in front of them, but were encouraged to be familiar enough with it to be able to lift their heads and play the part as well as read the words.

Again, the script was indebted to Kenneth Bailey’s work, and was contrived with a view to informing, enlightening and edifying the congregation, and not simply entertaining them!

Here is the first part of the script as a sample:

THE STORY OF THE LOVING FATHER

Interviewer: Welcome to the Happy Families show.
On this programme each week we bring to you our viewers the story of a family that has come through the tensions and troubles that are part of life together for every household.
It's our privilege to look in each week on a family in strife and difficulty.
Sometimes the story ends in tragedy and heartbreak;  sometimes it ends in success and happiness;
most often there is no ending: the story is still unfolding, as family life always is.

This week, we hear from their own lips, the story of a father and his two sons.
A story of rebellion and defiance, a story of wild living and abject poverty, a story of....
but the three people concerned are with me here to tell their own story.
I'm glad to introduce Reuben ben Issachar (Father stands and bows),
his older son Nathan (stands and bows) and his young brother Benjamin. (stands and bows)

(To Reuben) Sir, you have lived on your land all your days and tried to bring up your boys as a responsible father should?

R: I have always tried to rear my sons as a good father in Israel ought to do.
They have learnt from me the great traditions of our people, and I have tried to teach them
and to set them the example of living according to the law of the scriptures -
to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

I: As youngsters, they were good boys?

R: They were boys! They had their moments. There were childhood escapades, there were squabbles and scrapes that brought anxiety and pain to me and to their mother. Sometimes my sons filled my heart with pride, sometimes I despaired of them, sometimes I had to discipline them. That's how it is with children.

I: Were the two of them alike?

R: Alike? Never! I often found it hard to believe that they could have been born of the same parents. Chalk and cheese. Nathan here was always the quiet, reserved, polite, obedient one. But Benjamin? - always full of life and mischief, bubbling, fun-loving, ambitious; yes, and rebellious. Whatever I said, he’d want to question it. He'd argue about anything and everything.

I: So Nathan was your favourite even back in those early days?

R: Certainly not. They are both my sons. My wife and I always took great trouble to treat them even-handedly..... We'd not let Benjamin with his noise and liveliness put Nathan in the shade.... And we tried not to favour Nathan because he was so mild and easy to manage....

And so on. I hope this is enough to encourage some readers to prepare something of their own,
Full Script of 'The Story of a Loving Father'

Prayers

For opening worship

We worship you, our God.
 You are our God: there is no other for us to worship.
 You are our God, our life and our hope, our peace, and our joy.
 With heart and mind, with our voices and with the spirit deep within us we worship you.

You know us, eternal God. You know us, better than we know ourselves.
You know us, deep in our inner being.
 If we have hurt other people, spoiling their joy in living, depriving them of peace and hope;
 if we have done harm to our own inner life, if we have neglected you, our one faithful God,
 you know it all.
And still you love us!
 You reach out to forgive us, to welcome us, to make us what in your grace you want us to be.

Creator God, all that is good is your gift to us.
 Help us to be honest in our thinking, joyful in our giving, warm and tender in compassion.
 Help us to bear no grudges, to forget past hurts,
 remembering the good that has been done to us and for us.
 Help us, God our Father, to live as loyal followers of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen