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The well-known story of the<br />
Proigal Son would have<br />
been deeply shocking to<br />
the people Jesus told it to.<br />
A young man asks<br />
his father for his share of the<br />
inheritance: in a society that paid<br />
the utmost respect to fathers,<br />
this was like saying - “Dad, I wish<br />
you were dead; all I want is your<br />
money”. Scandalous!<br />
But astonishingly the father<br />
hands over the cash, and the<br />
young man sets off for the bright<br />
lights, quickly running through his<br />
money with wild living.<br />
Soon he’s broke. Then the local<br />
economy goes into recession, and<br />
the only job he can get is looking<br />
after pigs. For Jesus’ listeners,<br />
pigs were unclean and to be<br />
avoided – but there’s worse: he’s<br />
so hungry, the pigs’ food starts to<br />
look tasty.<br />
This is rock bottom, and<br />
suddenly the penny drops: back<br />
home, his father’s hired hands<br />
are far better off – so maybe he<br />
can make a deal. He plans to go<br />
home, cap in hand, and say, “Dad,<br />
I know I’ve blown it as your son –<br />
but could you maybe take me on<br />
as a servant?”.<br />
Off he goes; but before he gets<br />
anywhere near home, his father<br />
sees him coming. Society then<br />
would have said “Forget your son;<br />
he’s dead to you now”. Instead,<br />
he’s been watching and waiting<br />
every day for some sign of his<br />
son’s return. And now, throwing<br />
dignity to the wind, he hikes up his<br />
robes and runs to meet him with<br />
a hug.<br />
Another shock for Jesus’<br />
hearers – Jewish dads didn’t<br />
behave like that!<br />
Paying no attention to his son’s<br />
attempt to make a deal, the father<br />
hustles him into the house, calling<br />
for the best robe, a ring, and<br />
sandals for his son.<br />
The robe was a long garment,<br />
often worn by kings and priests;<br />
it demonstrates dignity and social<br />
position – certainly not the clothes<br />
of a hired servant!<br />
The ring, probably a signet<br />
ring, showed that the wearer was<br />
someone important, part of the<br />
family.<br />
And sandals? When people of<br />
Jesus’ society were taken captive<br />
or sold into slavery, they went<br />
barefoot; having his sandals back<br />
told the son he was home free.<br />
Now, says the father, let’s have<br />
the mother of all parties!<br />
Jesus told this story to say – this<br />
is what God, my father, is like.<br />
This is how he welcomes anyone<br />
who turns back to him, no matter<br />
how they’ve behaved.<br />
Check out the story for yourself:<br />
it’s in Luke’s gospel, chapter 15.<br />
Ken Goodier<br />
The Prodigal Son<br />
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats<br />
Church Office: Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA<br />
Tel: (0114) 274 5086<br />
Page 21<br />
email: office@stchads.org<br />
website: www.stchads.org
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