Joy in Heaven

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

Parables of lost sheep and lost son

Prodigal Son + lost sheep & lost coin = ??

Why does Jesus tell these stories?

Why does he eat with sinners?

What is the point of his ministry?

proclaim the Kingdom of God (Lk 4.43)

not an afterlife but an earthly kingdom (your kingdom come ... on earth as in heaven)

the kingdom of God has come near to you (Lk 10:9, 11)

>> REPENT = change direction and come in!

All Jesus does and says, all his actions and stories reveal the truth about God’s Kingdom / heaven on earth

Today: theme is joy and celebration vs. grumbling

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.”

Parable of Lost Sheep: 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Lk 15:5–6.

[shared some beer or wine?]

Parable of Lost Coin: 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Lk 15:9.

[shared some barely tea?]

Parable of the Prodigal Son or Parable of the Father and Two Sons: you know the story .... >> 22 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. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. Lk 15:22–24.

A party with food and loud music and dancing

Why all the joy and celebration? Because sinners (like us) are encountering and welcoming the Kingdom of God!

Many parables: The Kingdom of God is like = a party

where friends and neighbors and family a brought together in gratitude, joy and celebration

filled with God’s grace, God’s surprising presence in their lives

= anyone who will believe and enter . . .

THE FAMILY: father and two sons

a loving FATHER

YOUNGER SON is blind to the Father’s love and generosity

leaves and discovers an unloving and hard world outside his Father’s home

comes to his senses and returns

to a surprising welcome

would hope his eyes are opened to what he had missed

OLDER SON is also blind to the Father’s love and generosity

won’t enter the house and join the celebration because his brother is there

for him there is nothing to celebrate! How blind! How lifeless! spiritual death

The Sinners / the grumbling Pharisees and scribes

the “wrong” people are flocking to Jesus

they recognize . . . . they welcome … they are grateful, they filled with joy, they celebrate.

Like a party

the grumblers refuse to recognize ....

they remain outside

(did older brother come to his senses?) Do we recognise? Is this the difference between Heaven and Hell?

gratitude : basic virtue

joy

>> generosity, welcome

together . . . . with God, with God’s people (kingdom, not alone)

God comes to us in Christ Jesus / God comes to us in his gifts of life

EUCHARIST; HERE WE DO IT ,,, OR AT LEAST PRACTICE IT