Grace like a Glass of Cold Water

Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” 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.” ’

You can find this picture at To the Clouds Photography

A severe famine was in the land.
dry, aching earth.
cracked and thirsty.
farmers with work,
farmers without fruit.

A severe famine was in the land. 
parched, distant family.
broken and wanting.
father with a business.
father without peace.


A severe famine was in the land.
overworked, underpaid,
confused and jealous.
son with status
son without joy.

A severe famine was in the land.
outcast sinners, snubbed tax collectors,
disgust and righteousness.
leaders with reputations,
leaders without grace.

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What if the famine is the backdrop for the family as well as the land? What does it mean to have a famine in our families? Does cracked earth translate to broken relationships? Does thirst shed light on jealous older brothers?

And on this desolate landscape, we have a father who pours a glass of grace - ice cold.  A stark light onto the dim scene. The son was prepared with a speech and he didn't get to finish it.  The father interrupts him with a call for grace - from himself, from the servants, from the house.  Grace with food that's hard to come by, grace by party.

And why is Jesus telling this story? Well, he's eating with sinners and tax collectors; the leaders are unhappy with his friends of "doubtful reputation" (as the Message puts it). Jesus is spotted having lunch with the thirsty, the aching, the cracked, the broken, the wanting. And he's serving water.

He's serving water to them? And I've gotta ask myself - who is them to me? Who is revolting? With whom would I not be caught sharing water? Is there anyone in my life that is ruining my reputation?  Isn't there a famine somewhere around me that needs water?  There simply must be a severe famine somewhere that needs grace like rain.

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