In 1904 James Barrie wrote a story about a boy who never grew up and an ordinary girl named Wendy in a place called Neverland, along with a group of children named “The Lost Boys.” In Barrie’s original works, the Lost Boys leave Neverland and grow up, while in the Disney films they are merely tempted to leave but change their minds and choose to remain with Peter Pan.
In Luke 15 we are learning about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and you guessed it… two lost boys. We often think of this parable as the “prodigal son.” But in reality, it’s about two lost sons who are estranged from their father for different reasons. Like the boys in Peter Pan, they each are faced with a choice of whether to “grow up” and embrace their father’s love or not. The younger lost son comes to the end of himself and repents. The older lost son is confronted with his self-righteous ways and doesn’t appear to.
Each of us are faced with a choice as well. Will we seek fulfillment apart from the love of God, or will we humble ourselves under God’s loving embrace and admit our self-centered and selfish ways? Whether our rebellion is outward and flamboyant or inward and resentful, the Father lovingly approaches us with open arms.
Christ invites us to a relationship with God through His death, burial and resurrection on our behalf whether we come as “sinners” or “Pharisees.” This Sunday we’ll celebrate the life transforming power of Christ at work in us through the Lord’s supper. We’ll eat, drink, and celebrate what God has done and is doing among us. And just like He did in Luke 15:1,2, Christ will be there with us and there will be joy in heaven because of it!
In Jesus’ Name,
Kurt