The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

Be merry, my son is found

GRANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect dates from 440AD

St. Luke xv. 11


this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Today's appointed Gospel story of the parable of the Prodigal Son teaches the Church the very important lesson of the relationship that exists between God and his children. It also reminds us that some are likely to make mistakes in life - occasionally we may miss the mark. However, all is not lost, for if we acknowledge our error, and confess it before the face of God, repent, seek reconciliation, and return to God; we shall receive God's forgiveness and welcome home -- just as the Prodigal Son received from his father.

As I reflected on the Gospel, my thoughts went back to a remote creek in the Kentucky wilderness and another story about some "sons" who were learning things about themselves and about respect and authority - much as the Prodigal Son had learned. I was in the company of a compatriot, and a group of cadets with their appointed adult leader. This was our second excursion into this wilderness in as many weeks, seeking a misplaced stone for a Confederate veteran. This was one of the three most difficult of about 750 stones the camp had placed.

These cadets are members of a very rigorous program that teaches respect, discipline, and education. The young men were courteous, alert, and motivated. I had the opportunity to observe the cadets and their Leader at length as the mission took about five hours each day. At one point, I saw the Leader take one of the cadets aside with his arm about his neck for what appeared to be a special bit of teaching. Today, as I reflected on that scene, the Leader's actions reminded me of the father in the Gospel who threw his arms about the neck of his son, welcoming him home.

I observed the Leader's relationship with the cadets as he directed, encouraged, and motivated them through the difficult task of moving the 240 pound stone down the rough creek bed. Respect flowed both ways, between the leader and the cadets, and the close relationship and affinity between the Leader and cadets was apparent.

Near the end of our trek, three cadets became especially motivated, and as the bed of the creek turned into flat stone, they moved the stone rapidly down the creek all the while calling cadence and working together as a team. They showed something new to me that day I had not seen before in this group.

When we finally completed our mission and had the stone loaded on the truck, the cadets' Leader addressed them. He congratulated them on their success; and told them this day would be a stepping-stone in their life. He compared the work they had just accomplished, as they helped to honor an American veteran, with those type of things that could lead to their demise. These cadets were experiencing something very important that will change their lives. They are a members of a special group in which they had to earn their status through working and cooperating together all the while showing respect for their comrades and the leaders. They learned how to earn respect and how to give respect, and at the deepest level, respect is a key aspect of the Gospel lesson today. It is the essence of our Lord's command to love our neighbor - for it is not possible to love unless you can respect, and respect begins at the basic level of human dignity - for we are all created in our Maker's image, and includes learning about who we are -- about humility and self respect.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. [1 John 4:20-21]

I bid your prayers for these young men. As our collect this day says, may God "grant them the Spirit to think and do always such things that are Right", and I bid your thanksgiving for programs like this that help young people.

  for the Gospel

St. Luke xv. 11

JESUS said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger ! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Scripture and Collect from 1928 Book of Common Prayer

The Reverend Mark Carroll, preached at Saint John Baptist Anglican Church, Sunday 24 July 05