Prodigal love?

April 6, 2025

Communion with Apostles Creed

Scriptures: Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8

The word ‘prodigal’ is an interesting one. And one which I must confess I did not understand fully for much of my life. Probably because I never looked up the definition, but also because I always assumed that the story of the Prodigal Son talked simply about a young man who did some very foolish and wasteful things, and then was forgiven on his return home…bad actions, forgiveness (probably by God), end of story! But as I looked into that parable more closely, I learned that there are at least two definitions for the word, both of which were in evidence within the parable.

Now I assure you that I am going to get to this week’s reading in a minute, however I want to talk about this whole concept of ‘being prodigal’ a bit, because I think a case can be made that this week’s reading touches on someone who is very much being ‘prodigal’ as well.

The first definition of the word prodigal, and the one I was most familiar with speaks to the actions of the younger son in last week’s reading. That definition says that the word prodigal refers to ‘someone who spends money or resources freely and recklessly, someone who is recklessly extravagant’. Surely this sounds like our prodigal son from last week. But we see the same negative accusations of ‘reckless extravagance’ being leveled at Mary in today’s reading, where she is deeply criticized by some for ‘totally wasting’ the quite valuable flask of perfume on Jesus.

However the second definition that is listed for the word ‘prodigal’ indicates that it can also mean ‘having or giving something away on a lavish scale’. Being generous, unsparing, or bountiful in the way one acts towards another. And I think that second definition allows for a completely different way of understanding just what may be going on in both last week’s and this week’s readings.

And for me at least this radical change of focus is quite interesting, going from a very negative or critical interpretation of the actions being described, over to a much more positive rendering just a moment later. On the one hand the listeners in last week’s passage were quick to see the young son’s actions as careless and reckless, as wasteful and certainly not worthy of forgiveness, and certainly not calling for the type of celebration thrown in his honor upon his return. A point that was voiced rather loudly and angrily by the older brother.

But then, with the father’s unexpected reaction to his son’s return, we see a change of tone entirely…we see the emergence of that second definition coming into stark focus. We see the generous and lavish display of grace and love extended both towards the younger son last week, as well as to Jesus by Mary in today’s passage. In both of these instances, we see a much more holy reaction, as both the father figure last week, and Jesus himself this week refused to let voices of criticism or dissent define the moment.

That is what we see upon first glance regarding the actions of all of our actors within these two very similar stories. Prodigal can be both extremely wasteful and reckless in a bad or negative way, as well as recklessly generous , loving, and forgiving. Which is interesting and certainly food for thought. However, I think these two stories may have even more to tell us if we look more deeply into what was actually going on, and puzzle through just what Jesus might have been trying to teach in both of these accounts, as well as how they might tie into Christian behavior that is ‘prodigal’ in the 21st Century.

In considering the actions of the father and of Mary, what did they actually do? Did they just do what they did because it seemed like the proper or correct thing to do? Did they say what they said and do what they did just because after all the father really was overjoyed to see his son, and Mary had grown so deeply in love with Jesus?

I ask this question because I think it is important in our own lives to be sure that any words or actions we may take that look ‘righteous’ or ‘holy’, actually emerge from a heartfelt intent to serve our Lord…first and foremost. For in truth, it may not just be all about the ‘things’ one can, or does offer or give away…for honestly, anyone can be kind and feed a poor person, anyone can offer their coat to another in need. That does not mean however, that one’s actions are particularly ‘holy’, or ‘righteously prodigal’.

Rather, I feel that it is what is in one’s heart that truly determines just how ‘wastefully holy’, or ‘Christ-like’ a particular action may be. In other words, it seems that the origin of, or inner intent behind one’s action, may somehow be more important than the magnitude of any gift that is offered. I am reminded of Paul’s words in the 13th Chapter of 1st Corinthians where he says, ‘even if I give away all that I have, even my body unto death…if I have not love, I gain nothing’.

So I think we can ask why…why does someone do something like the father did in last week’s story, why did Mary do what she did with that flask of precious and costly perfume? What was the intent behind the action? Some would say that Mary was simply showing her deep love and devotion to Jesus…that somehow her ‘wasteful’ act was justified in itself because she was doing it unto God alone.

But I wonder if that is what Jesus was actually commending Mary for…if somehow being extravagant and wasteful ‘towards God’ was somehow a special type of permissible excess, just because it was directed towards God. Or, if Mary was commended because Jesus was trying to teach us something deeper. Personally I think that Mary did act out of deep love for Jesus…but that is hard to do today, as Jesus is no longer here with us. Which raises for me another question entirely. How can or do we love Jesus as Mary did?

I have long wondered about and in some sense struggled with the idea that what God actually wants is unending praise and adoration from humanity. I must confess that there are times when I am not sure that is the case…times when that sort of a relationship with the living God, that sort of a relationship with this holy man who came to earth and walked among us…seems just a bit shallow. Almost as if that sort of ‘abject devotion’ so to speak, might in some way possibly be a barrier to us, preventing us from reaching out to our brothers and sisters, our neighbors and friends.

I once heard a phrase that has stayed with me, for I feel that it serves as something that can keep us properly focused on what being a practicing Christian is supposed to be about. And that phrase was, ‘be careful that you are not so heavenly minded, that you are of no earthly good!’

Surely, I think most of us would look down on someone who lived and acted simply for the praise and adoration of those around them…those who seem to thrive on attention, and on having people fawning over them constantly…like a King in his castle whose subjects bow and belittle themselves every time they are in his presence. And that makes me want to ask, does that really sound like our Lord Jesus? Is that at all reflective of the picture we get from the gospels when we study his words and actions? I am not so sure.

Now, I am not saying that praise of, and thanksgiving to our Lord is out of place or inappropriate, for surely there are times when one can feel completely overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude or deep love towards God. Similar to times Paul references when in Romans 8 and verse 26 he writes, ‘for we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express.’ In truth, if we look and listen carefully to all that the Spirit is doing in our midst there will undoubtedly be times when our hearts are moved deeply and we find that we cannot help but lift our eyes and hearts in thanksgiving.

But I find myself wondering if that may not always be what our Lord is looking for when it comes to how we respond, when it comes to how we live out our faith, when it comes to how we extend ourselves towards another. The real question may in fact be, is our heart aligned with the will and purposes of God. And if not, why not, and if not, how can it become so?

I think a case can be made that one of the lessons meant to be taught in both last week’s rendering of the father’s reaction to his son’s return, and of Mary’s behavior towards Jesus today, is that they are as much about being directly thankful to God, as they are offered as a way or a model of how we are supposed to be with and towards each other.

In other words, loving God is critical, necessary, and right, but a part of that must also include, ‘loving the God-like-ness within each other’. The way we would act towards God, the way we would be if we were so privileged as to actually be in the presence of Jesus, is in truth the same way we are called to be with one another.

Both last week’s story of the father’s prodigal love towards his son, and this week’s ‘wasteful’ action on the part of Mary, are offered as living demonstrations of how it is we are called to love one another…how it is, that we are to live into the greatest commandment, how it is, that we are to love one another…and how we are to love God as well.

Prodigal? Yes. Wasteful? Yes. Holy? Absolutely. In fact I feel that the most authentic way to live out your faith, and one of the most genuine ways we can show our love for God, is to love one another with great abandon…being so quick to forgive and extend mercy, and so quick as well to offer assistance or needed resources to one on need, even unto your own want or need. Indeed we are called to empty ourselves in the service of our Lord, and to do so from an intent that comes from the innermost reaches of our hearts, serving, giving, loving…just because that is who we are.

We need to lift up and celebrate the privilege of being able to love one another, celebrate the fact that we are called to act just like Jesus, celebrate the fact that the Jesus in each one of us, truly can be the actual presence of God’s love for another.

So, let us offer scandalous and uncomfortable love…towards God and to all others…let us be the light of love everywhere that we are…at home, at work, at play, at church, when we are at rest, and when we are in the absolute crazy busyness of daily life…and let us be lights of love as well, even when alone in the presence of God….

…and finally, let us all love prodigally…for then we will have finally and fully given free rein to the Spirit of God within each one of our hearts.

…being prodigal, truly can be holy…Mary knew this and she demonstrated it for each one of us…let us follow her lead.        

…amen