Instead of a traditional sermon today, we had a dialogue reading of the Gospel passage, followed by a little skit in which a reporter interviews the narrator and characters in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Narrator: Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! 3 So Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father,
Younger: ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’
Narrator: So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself,
Younger: ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
Narrator: 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 His son said to him,
Younger: ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
Narrator: 22 “But his father said to the servants,
Parent: ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’
Narrator: So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied,
Older: ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after wasting your money on wild living, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
Narrator: 31 “His father said to him,
Parent: ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
Breaking News: Lavish Party Thrown for Wayward Son!
Reporter: Good morning. This is Joanna of Galilee, reporting live outside a rather extravagant and lively party taking place on a family property near Capernaum. This event came to our attention because of the crowds of people streaming to the area to join in, some noise complaints from the neighbours, and we actually received a leak about the story from someone who witnessed it themself.
I’m coming to you live on the scene to find out what’s going on, and to ask what inspired such a lavish party to be held so suddenly without warning in the middle of the day.
Excuse me, excuse me… Are you the narrator who leaked the story about what led to this little shin-dig?
Narrator: Yes, that was me. I witnessed the whole affair, and I thought the world should know about what’s happening here.
Reporter: Who’s house is this?
Narrator: Well, I don’t know the name of the owner. But I’ve never encountered a parent who was so prodigal and generous towards their 2nd born son.
Reporter: Oh, I see. So the party’s for the younger son, is it? Is it his birthday? Or did he accomplish something great that his parent wanted to celebrate?
Narrator: No, not at all. In fact, it wasn’t long ago that the son asked for his inheritance early, and then he skipped town.
Reporter: Really? That’s a pretty bold thing to demand. And you’re telling me that the parent handed it over to him?
Narrator: Yes, he did! I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. But that’s exactly what happened. The younger son took half his father’s money…
Reporter: Oh, so he’s not the only heir then, is he?
Narrator: Right. There’s an older son too. He didn’t go anywhere or ask for his inheritance. But the thing is, the younger son left with half his father’s assets and he blew it all in a matter of a few months, I believe.
Reporter: Wow! That’s shocking! If I had such a son, he’d be dead to me. If he acted like I was dead to him, I’d act like he was dead too.
Narrator: But that’s just the thing, Joanna, the guy who owns this place didn’t do that. When his son came back, he welcomed him with open arms. The son looked pretty rough, probably because of the hard living. But his dad dressed him up in a new robe, gave him a fancy ring, killed a fattened calf, and threw this lavish party for him!
Reporter: My goodness, that’s a strange thing to do for a wayward son!
Older: You’re right about that, Mrs. Reporter! I don’t know why you came out to cover this story, but it sure is strange!
Reporter: Oh, do you think it’s strange that this parent threw a party for a son that spent half his money? Who are you, by the way?
Older: I’m the good son, of course! I’m the one who works hard in the family business. I’m the one who obeys my father and doesn’t make a fuss. I’m the one who does everything right, and my brother gets a party? This is completely unfair!
Reporter: Oh, I see. So, you’re feeling pretty angry about what’s happening today? Is that why you’re out here instead of inside the party, singing and dancing and feasting with your brother and everyone else from the neighbourhood?
Older: My brother is a scoundrel! I think he’s tricked my dad into taking care of him again, and it’s mostly at my expense. It’s my half of the inheritance that is actually paying for this party, and he doesn’t deserve it at all!
Reporter: Gosh, I’m sorry this is happening to you, man. It sounds pretty rough. But I’m still wondering why you’re out here on the street. You were invited to join in, weren’t you? You didn’t get kicked out or something, did you? If that’s your fattened calf they’re eating in there, why don’t you go in and get fed at least? And the music sounds pretty good too. It could be fun?!
Older: Oh, I don’t know. I guess I’m still mad about the whole thing. It just doesn’t seem fair.
Reporter: Sure, I get that. I wonder… Do you think I could talk to your little brother about this?
Older: If you want to talk to a selfish, reckless, scammer, be my guest. Here he comes now.
Reporter: Hello there! Are you the guest of honour at this party? Could I ask you a few questions about what’s happening here today?
Younger: Um, yes. I guess I’m the guest of honour, although I really didn’t deserve all of this. My dad is being so generous and kind to me, given how badly I messed up.
Reporter: Oh, so you’re admitting that you took your inheritance and spent it all on unimportant things in just a few months?
Younger: You’ve heard about that, have you? I can’t believe how quickly the news is spreading. This is so embarrassing for me and for my dad! I really shouldn’t have treated him so poorly.
Reporter: You sound repentant. Are you truly sorry for what you did?
Younger: Well, I have to admit that I was desperate when I decided to come home. I had spent all my money, and I was stuck in a dead-end job feeding pigs. It was the most disgusting job, and it hardly paid anything. I was so hungry that I considered eating some of the pigs’ slop!
I came home thinking that maybe my dad would give me a slightly better job. I never imagined that he would welcome me like this.
When I realized how much he loved me, even though I had totally messed up, it broke my heart. I wish I could go back in time and make different choices, but my dad has given me a fresh start and I’m going to do the best I can from now on.
Reporter: You heard it first here, folks! The wayward son has come home. The one who wasted his father’s money on extravagant living has returned. And because of his dad’s loving welcome and forgiveness, he’s vowed to change his ways.
Hey, do you think I could speak to your father, by any chance? I’d love to get his perspective on what happened here.
Younger: Sure thing! I’m gonna go back into the party. I’ll send him out, if he’s willing to talk to you.
Parent: Hello? Are you the reporter that was looking for me?
Reporter: Yes, yes, sir. I was hoping you could enlighten me about why you threw a party for your irresponsible son who spent half your money.
Parent: Well, that’s a harsh way of putting it, don’t you think?
Reporter: It may sound harsh to you, sir, but it has come to our attention that a lot of people, including your older son, think it’s really unfair that you’re throwing this big party for the guy who just wasted half your property.
Parent: Oh dear! Did he tell you that? I was hoping that he was starting to understand why we had to celebrate. I was hoping to convince him to come inside and get something to eat. I am starting to miss him like I missed my younger son when he was away.
Reporter: What do you mean? You’re talking about your good son, right? The one who stayed here? The one who worked hard for you?
Parent: Yes, that’s the one I’m talking about. I love him so much, and I’ve been so proud of him over the years. He’s been so faithful and so hard-working and so good. But the problem is that he’s starting to think that he’s earned everything he’s got. He’s starting to measure himself against his little brother, and of course his brother isn’t measuring up in his eyes.
Reporter: But isn’t he right, sir? Isn’t your younger son a bit of a failure? He doesn’t deserve the royal treatment that you’ve given to him here today, does he?
Parent: No, he doesn’t deserve it. That’s not the point. The point is that I love him, and he’s my kid, and he’s come home. It’s exactly the same way that I feel about my older son, actually. He hasn’t exactly left home, but right now he’s refusing to come into the house, and it’s breaking my heart.
Reporter: Oh my! I thought I was just reporting on a raucous party. I didn’t realize there was so much family drama going on. Maybe the network should have sent in a reality TV producer instead of a journalist!
Parent: Don’t be silly, Mrs. Reporter, you’ve been a great help – getting both my sons talking and thinking about what’s happening here, and getting me out of the party too so that I can reach out to my older son one more time.
To the older son: Come on, kid. There’s a party happening in there, and it’s for you too! Your robe and ring and sandals are ready for you! Won’t you join the party? It’s not the same without you.
Older son and father hug.
Reporter: Well, that’s the story as I see it. There’s a pretty spectacular family reunion taking place here outside of Capernaum, and all because of a father’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
This story has made my day! And since it’s not an exclusive party, by invitation only, I think I’ll join in the celebration. You’re invited too, if you want to come on down!