Mercy first

Sermon on Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Dear Saints!

The religious authorities are grumbling and saying: “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 

The neighbors are upset and saying: “This church wants to let unhoused neighbors park in their lot at night.”

The people who have and are settled comfortably are saying: “Your decision to welcome the sinners and to host the unhoused doesn’t just affect you. What will that look like to the others? How do we know it’s safe to do? How do we know those sinners aren’t sinners anymore? Because we sure don’t want sinner in our midst!”

Today’s Gospel is one of the most well-known Jesus stories ever. I am sure you have heard one or another version of “just repent like the younger son and the father will welcome you with open arms”. Which is beautiful. No doubt. It’s just not the summary of this story.

Actually, it’s the story of 2 fairly ordinary brothers. An older brother, who seems to be responsible, stays with his father, follows his family’s path on the farm. He is well respected, has friends, but doesn’t really like to spend his money on anything himself or his friends. Maybe, because he still expects his dad to pay for everything like he always has. Maybe, because he believes that he doesn’t own anything yet, since dad is still alive. Maybe, because he has bigger plans or just doesn’t know how to have a good time. Hard to tell. Jesus is quite brief about him.

And there is the younger brother, the absolute opposite it seems. As soon as he is considered an adult he requests his inheritance from his dad and walks off. He basically lets his family know that they have done all they could for him and that he doesn’t owe them anything. And he doesn’t. Our kids don’t owe us anything even though we sure hope that one day they will care for us. But we aren’t entitled to their care and love, unfortunately. So, that young man travels the world, has fun, gets to know new people, maybe even makes new friends. He feels invincible and maybe, he feels like there is no future to look forward to anyway. That the world is doomed, no matter what. So, he might as well enjoy the little bit of time he gets on earth. 

Plus, none of this money is stolen. It’s his after all. Maybe it was intended for his College education or the down payment of his first home. But he’s an adult now and can do what he wants with his money. Thank God, his father agreed with him. Which was surprising when he thinks about it. Kind of cool, actually. 

You all know the story. He has a blast, spends his money, and finds a job herding pigs. To his family that would be the worst. If they knew. But they don’t and he doesn’t care about all those religious rules. He just wants to work and eat and have a roof over his head. Sounds familiar? Like so many stories of immigrants trying to survive in a different country that feels like a different world?

Well, the young man is lucky. Because while he is an immigrant, he is no refugee. He has a home to go back to. Of course, he isn’t sure how he would be perceived after his stormy farewell. So, he comes up with a plan that would grant him his return and show some humility in order for his father to take him in again without losing his reputation in the community. Without appearing weak on the sinner, the ungrateful, whatever the neighbors might think.

He thinks to himself, this is what I am gonna say: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” That should work alright. 

He travels back home. There is his father, running towards him, hugging him, kissing him. “Hm”, the son thinks, “maybe dad isn’t mad after all?” And so the son says: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Notice, how he left out the second part of his speech? The offer to work along with the hired hands? But also the offer to weaken the repentance by saying that, yes, he sinned, but he still has something to offer to his dad. Isn’t that something? 

While it’s much more fun to focus on the younger son, as I just did. Right? Who doesn’t love a good sinful story? Who wouldn’t like to bathe in every detail of it just to feel better about oneself, thinking “At least, I am not that bad!” Well, as much as we love this part of the story, the young son isn’t the center of Jesus’ message. 

This parable is aimed at people critiquing Jesus to hang out with sinners. Basically, this parable is aimed at the older sons. At the people who feel like they have earned what they have, they have every right to feel proud and protective of what they got. It’s aimed at people like us who often wonder who deserves what among our neighbors in need. Us, who would like to have control over other people’s decisions and spending. Us, who would like to see changes of hearts and repentance. I mean, the only person more interesting than a sinner, is a repenting sinner. He makes for the best feel-good stories. 

Now, the one that truly misses out, that wastes an opportunity of joy and welcome and fun is the older brother. He is so mad he doesn’t join the party, probably sitting at home, grouchy and angry at his father, his brother, the world, and himself. That his pride doesn’t let him celebrate that night. Not even that night when his father is actually throwing a party. Something he has been waiting for so long and it never seemed to happen. 

Do you know that feeling? When something finally happens, something you have been waiting for dearly. But it doesn’t happen the way you had hoped? I know I have certainly ruined a fun event for myself over my pride covered in disappointment and righteousness and anger. He sees the younger brother for who he is: A self-serving man who has enjoyed his life to the fullest, fell down, and walked right back home. Just to be thrown a party of the kind he used to go to when he still had money. Consequences look different.

Which is the whole point. The father rejoices upon the son’s arrival whose greatest interest was to eat better. That’s it. But then, even before the younger son has said a single word, the father has already embraced him, no questions asked. That’s mercy. No background check, no screening, no paperwork, no proof of a change of lifestyle requested. No guarantees or timelines for improvement worked out. It’s just mercy. 

Mercy first. Mercy is the prerequisite for any repentance. Mercy is the only reason why we can repent. Mercy doesn’t mean that we will repent. It just opens up that door.

A door the older brother missed. The door the religious authorities missed who were mad at Jesus’ company with sinners. The door I pray we won’t miss too often in our lives. Because we will miss out on a great party, on great people, on great stories, on new friends and old siblings glad to be back.

The Good News is for sinners. Not for former sinners. It’s for sinners because that’s what we all are. Some of us just know that better than others. Thank God, God’s mercy is open to us all, all the time. No questions asked. Amen.