God's Extravagant Welcome

"God's Extravagant Welcome"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "God's Extravagant Welcome."

This Morning's Scripture reading is
Luke 15:1-3; 11b-32

Entitlements

Dave Ross – the political commentator who fills in for Charles Osgood occasionally on CBS radio, wrote a performed a catchy tune a few years back. The song, sung to the tune of Billy Ray Cyrus’ ‘Achy Breaky Heart," is called something like "Don’t take a cent – from my entitlements." (Are you singing it now?) It’s about tax code and our desire to keep all our "stuff" and let others foot the tax bill. I looked all over Dave Ross’ website this week and couldn’t find any mention of it – the song must be from too long ago for him to have even in the archives . . .

Entitlements: the right to guaranteed benefits. I guess in a legal sense the word has no negative or positive connotation. Whenever I hear it, however, I get a negative feeling – as if the word was really trying to say "selfishness."

The people listening to Jesus in the "lost things" parables from Luke 15 may have had a sense of entitlement about what God would do for them. And, as usual, Jesus had something to say on the matter that turned things in a different direction.

There are three "lost things" parables that Jesus’ told in reaction to the Pharisee’s grumbling about the people Jesus welcomed.

The first one is the parable of the lost sheep – where Jesus talks about a shepherd leaving 99 sheep to go and rescue one. It doesn’t make any sense in terms of raising animals. It does, however, make sense when it comes to the nature of God’s extravagant welcome. God’s neighborhood isn’t about smart farming. The celebration at finding the one lost sheep is like the celebration of one who was lost now being found.

The second is the parable of the lost coin – where a woman with 10 silver coins scours the house to find the one she has lost. That one doesn’t make sense with it comes to the most efficient way to use our time. Why spend the day looking for something that is worth only and hour’s worth of time? God’s neighborhood, however, isn’t about efficiency.

Today we’re looking at the third parable. In this parable of the lost son, (The Prodigal son) I see two sons who feel a sense of entitlement. One feels entitled to his inheritance early so that he can go out and enjoy it. The other feels a sense of entitlement (and jealousy) when the son who took the inheritance early came back and was welcomed with open arms. He did not want his father’s reckless son getting any of what was rightfully his.

The parable is well worn – I imagine many of you have heard it many times. And I think we have different reactions to it. Here’s what I’ve been thinking.

The son who took the inheritance early made a mistake. When he came back, he was welcomed with grace and mercy – even though he did not deserve it.

The son who stayed with his father acted rude and disrespectful to his father when he refused to greet his brother. The father reminded him that he had lost nothing – and to come and celebrate. The father didn’t shun the son for treating him so harshly. (According to the culture, he should have.) He showed him love and caring – even though he did not deserve it.

The father showed compassion to the son who went away and then returned. He also showed compassion on the son who stayed – shouting, "That's not fair!" In both cases the father showed compassion and love -- even though they didn’t deserve it.

I think Jesus was continuing to teach that God’s mercy is not limited. I think he was continuing to teach that God’s unconditional love and extravagant welcome isn’t something anyone deserves – no one is entitled. Jesus was teaching that mercy and love from God are for everyone – even thought no one is entitled.

When we experience the way God does things – it doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t always (if ever) seem fair. Sometimes it even seems contrary to all our instincts.

God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love applies to everyone – and that can be a very comforting thought. It can also be unnerving and angering.
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for babies, children, youth, young adults, middle age- adults, seniors – everyone. We hear that and think, "of course it is!"
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for those who have lost their way and have returned. We hear that and we feel good
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for rich people, poor people and "barely scraping by" people. We hear that and think "What about the people who abuse the system?"
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for those who get angry about "hand-outs" and "undeserved benefits." We hear that and feel a little uneasy.
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for Republicans, Democrats, independents, Greens; political activists and political apathists. We hear that and hope that they voted with us – after all, we vote as Jesus would, right?
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for every undocumented person living in the United States. We hear that and might feel a sense of angry entitlement
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for people of all genders and sexual orientations. We hear that and wonder if a debate about homosexuality would splinter and divide the church.
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for every soldier, worker or anyone else who lives or works in parts of our world devastated by war. We hear that and pray for protection of our own.
God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love is for every person who, under the shroud of religion, attacks and kills others. We hear that and a fire brews in our chest – angry with any who would take innocent life while saying their cause is holy.

What can we do with that? How can any of us really show God’s extravagant welcome and unconditional love to others when so many things have us feeling angry and entitled and screaming "that‘s not fair!" inside?

This week in prayer – let’s all try something. Instead of praying for everyone we love and care for, let’s follow something else Jesus taught: (Matthew 5:44 NRSV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

This will not be easy. Ignore our loved ones in prayer in favor or praying for our enemies? I don’t know if I can do it. But I think the parables we heard about today teach us that God can and will take care of all. The parables show people ignoring conventional wisdom in order to seek what is lost. I think that when we spend our time loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors we’ll understand more of what these parables are teaching. However, we can’t simply rely on ourselves to get it done – we must rely of God’s unconditional love to have it happen. Our motives, our actions, our welcome needs to be firmly rooted in serving God.

God’s mercy is not limited. God’s unconditional love and extravagant welcome isn’t something anyone deserves. Yet still God gives it – to everyone – no matter who we are or where we are on life’s journey. God loves all unconditionally and offers to all God’s extravagant welcome.

Close with prayer