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When
the Pigs Are Eating Better than You
March
20/21, 2004
Luke
15:1-32
Admonitio
by Anthony Camino:
What
do you do when the pigs are eating better than you are? Certainly
you can despair.
The
Gospel story that you will hear today presents us with a man,
who had plenty of reasons to despair. The prodigal son was
broke, starving, homeless and alone. On top of that, his own
choices caused the mess. Certainly, he could have despaired.
The story of the Prodigal Son is rich with imagery. Numerous
lessons can be drawn from this beloved parable. As you hear
the story proclaimed, focus on the younger son's predicament.
What was the turning point for this headstrong young man?
What does this reveal to us about God?
So
what do you do when the pigs are eating better than you are?
Certainly you can despair. You can conclude that you are out
of options, that hope no longer exists. You can conclude that
you are better off dead, where life is no longer a burden
to you and you are no longer a burden to others. Isn't that
what suicide is, after all? The ultimate act of despair by
a person who perceives no other options. The prodigal son
could have easily taken his own life and his story would have
ended. He did not. Instead he found God in a pile of pig pods
and made a decision that forever changed his life. Rather
than succumb to despair, this prodigal decided to go home.
Far from no options, this prodigal turned to the God of infinite
options. A God, who will use any means to save us.
Truly
God is continually at work making a way where there seems
to be none, providing options when we are on the brink of
despair. God will not rest until we are home.
What
do you do when the pigs are eating better than you are? Perhaps,
the better question is: What is God doing when the
pigs are eating better than you are? And the answer is this:
God is doing whatever it takes to bring you home. Whatever
it takes!
Homily
by George Smiga:
God
is doing whatever it takes to bring us home. God is even willing
to use the tragedies and mistakes of our life, to bless us
and to lead us to growth.
There's
an African story about a local tribal king, who had a very
good friend from boyhood. The two would regularly go out hunting
together. The king's friend was resolute in his conviction
that no matter what happened, good things would come from
it. Despite many doubts to the contrary, he continued to believe
that all things worked for the good. One day when the king
and his friend were out hunting, the king's gun jammed and
it blew off his thumb. It was a terrible tragedy. The king
was deeply shaken. But his friend in typical style said, “Don't
worry, good will come from this.” Now this so angered the
king, that in a rage he sent his friend to prison. A couple
months later the king was out hunting again in some rather
dangerous territory. He was seized by a group of cannibals,
who tied him and prepared to eat him. But just before they
began, they noticed that his thumb was missing. Being superstitious,
they believed that they should never eat anyone who was less
than whole. So they untied the king and set him free.
Realizing
what had happened, the king repented that he had treated his
friend so poorly. The loss of his thumb had indeed saved his
life. So the king went to the prison and apologized to his
friend. “You were right,” he said, “I should never have put
you into prison, that was a terrible and unjust decision.”
The friend, in typical fashion, said, “Yes it was, but good
came from it.” “Good?” the king said, “what possible good
could come from my decision to put my friend in prison?” “Well,”
said the friend, “had you not put me in prison, I would have
been out hunting with you and the cannibals would have eaten
me!”
Even
our greatest disappointments can lead to blessings. Even our
most foolish decisions can lead to growth. This is what we
as Christians believe. We do not believe that is the way the
world is. We believe that is the way God is. God is doing
whatever it takes to bring us home. That is why for a Christian,
despair is never a final option. Even if we have rejected
our father, squandered our inheritance, and find our selves
feeding slop to hogs. Even if the person we love the most
has been taken from us. Even if we have lost our health or
our reputation. Even if we have made disastrous decisions
and sinned so grievously that, like the prodigal son, we feel
that we are no longer worthy to be God's child. Even then,
God is doing whatever it takes to bring us home.
Therefore,
the next time you have to face evil in the eye, the next time
that you realize what a mess you have made of your life, the
next time you know that the pigs are eating better than you
are—do not despair. Turn around and start home. The way back
may be crooked and difficult, but it is a road that has been
prepared for you. Do not forget that when you come to the
end of that road, you will not face rejection but welcome.
You will not encounter a cold shoulder, but a loving embrace.
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