Lent
March 31, 2019
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
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. 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.” 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. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 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. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 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 15:20-32
Are we the older brother? With whom do we identify in this story? If we find ourselves in the role of the older brother, we are most likely taking our privilege for granted. I have observed families who invest all their pride and energy in the children that do well according to the ways of the world, and I have seen families who worked so hard at saving a wayward child they ignored the others. God wants all God’s children to thrive and reach their full potential. We are called to see others the way God sees them.
The season of Lent is a great time to examine ourselves to determine if our perception of the people around us is driven from God’s ways or from the ways of the world. Oklahoma incarcerates more people than any other state. A wide variety of people are now examining that situation to see how we can move from an overly punitive system to a more restorative system of criminal justice. Is incarceration the best way to deal with a person who has been found guilty of a non-violent crime? Does labeling a person for the rest of their lives as a felon imped their reintroduction into normal society? What do people who cannot get a job because they are labeled a felon do to support themselves? Should drug or alcohol abuse be treated as a disease rather than responded to as a crime? What about those who make a lot of money off the addictions of others? If the prodigals of the world turn around and come home do we greet them with open arms and help or turn them away?
Prayer: Lord, guide us as we study and develop better ways of responding to crime and all that is impacted by it. Amen.