 |
Pastor's Page |
JOHN ROTHFUSZ, PASTOR - Phone 779-901-0803; email:
Dear Friends in Christ,
“For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost” Luke 19:10
Our gospel reading from last Sunday is one of my favorites in the whole Bible, the Prodigal Son. In Luke 15, there are three parables in a row: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. They all make the same point in different ways.
The lost sheep tells of a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep grazing quietly on the hillside to go search and rescue one sheep who is lost. And when he finds it, he lifts it to his shoulders and carries it back, rejoicing. It concludes with the words, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7
The lost coin tells of a woman who had 10 silver coins and lost one of them. She cleans her house from top to bottom until she finds the coin, then she calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. “Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10
And then comes the one we know best, the story of the lost son. He rudely demands his inheritance while his father is still living, and runs off to a far country, where he squanders it in foolish living. Only when he is hungry and in rags does he come to his senses, recognizing that he had been far better off in his father’s house. Even the hired hands were much better off than he is now, dying of hunger in a far-off land.
So the prodigal son returns slowly, sadly home. He rehearses his planned speech to his father, begging for a place among the hired hands. But the father sees him coming in the distance, and runs to greet him. He sweeps him into an embrace, and calls for a party to celebrate his return.
The elder brother, who stayed at home and worked faithfully, is now filled with resentment and anger as he sees this good for nothing brother welcomed with a great party. It isn’t fair. It isn’t right, and he refuses to take part in it. But the father says, “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 15:32
These stories are such a beautiful summary of our faith. The whole message of Jesus is how he comes to seek and to save the lost. Like the elder brother, we can feel angry at all the gifts and attention given to those who just don’t deserve it. And he is right as far as that goes. They really don’t deserve it.
But God in Jesus gives each of us far more than we deserve. When we are lost, when we are sinful, when we are despairing and hopeless, God still comes to us with an embrace, celebrating that the lost have been found. And God shows the same amazing grace for all who are lost.
Our privilege in the church is to share in that work of Jesus, in seeking and saving the lost. We have good news for people who feel like they are outsiders or unworthy. God loves each of us, and welcomes us with open arms, no matter what we might have done. We are a community of forgiven sinners, and we rejoice when each new sinner comes into our midst to share in the abundance of God’s forgiveness given freely to each of us.
There is no limit to God’s grace and forgiveness. We are invited to the party to celebrate, and there is a spot for each and every one who is lost and lonely. So, we get to be witnesses for Jesus, telling others of the party that Jesus is throwing, inviting them to come. We get to make each person welcome, sharing the good news of forgiveness and hope that makes each of us a new creation in Jesus. This is no time to be quiet – we have good news to share!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor John Rothfusz
