An Invitation to Forgiveness

March 15, 2010

Today we have the privilege of spending time with one of the most beloved stories in all the Bible—the story of the Prodigal Son. But the classic prodigal is not the only character in this drama. There is the Father, the older son, the younger son’s fair-weather friends, and a whole host of “extras” to round out the scene.

Today we have a chance to ask ourselves where we are in this story and to examine, once again, our relationship to God, our Father (pardon me for a quick aside: I use the male imagery of “father” because that’s the imagery of the parable Jesus tells, not because God is somehow male). How are we relating to God? How do we imagine God relating to us?

This story speaks powerfully of God’s grace and mercy that is inherent in God’s character. We love God because God first loved us, John would later write in his gospel, perhaps reflecting on this story he heard Jesus tell.

Whatever the case, I want to ask you to think, today, about where you need grace in your life. This is really a continuation of the question I asked last week, related to the fig tree that wasn’t bearing fruit. If you remember, the gardener (Jesus?) asks the owner of the fig tree for one more year to coax figs from this barren tree. I asked you, “Who could use one more year? Who could use one more chance?” Today the words are different but the question is the same: Who needs grace?

If you’re as desperate for grace as I am, I hope you’ll hear in this story an invitation to forgiveness. And then a calling, to offer your forgiveness to someone else who, but for your grace toward them, might be living in total despair.

Grace and peace,

Ryan