Have you ever heard, or used, the phrase 鈥榩rodigal son鈥�? It鈥檚 one of those terms that sneaked its way into the English language from the Bible over many centuries 鈥� but I am not sure (to quote Inigo Montoya from 鈥楾he Princess Bride鈥�,) 鈥淭hat word means quite what you think it means.鈥�
The phrase 鈥榩rodigal鈥� is often used to describe someone who is wayward, who has 鈥榣eft the nest鈥� and gone astray. It鈥檚 often used to talk about someone who has 鈥榞one off the rails鈥� or is on the wrong path.听 That鈥檚 not what the word means though 鈥� it actually means generous: wastefully, overwhelmingly, even thoughtlessly generous.
In the original story, or parable, of the Lost Son ( as it is now known) in Luke鈥檚 Gospel chapter 15, Jesus talks of two brothers where the youngest demands his inheritance 鈥� basically wishing his father was dead 鈥� and then goes off and spends it on 鈥榙issolute living.鈥� When the money runs out he returns to his father (after a brief, and desperate, time as a pig farmer) claiming to be unworthy of the name 鈥榮on鈥� but asking to be a hired worker on the family farm. Rather than judging the son, the father gives him the best robes, a new family ring, and a huge party to celebrate his return 鈥� much to the annoyance of the older brother.听 The father says that the reason for the celebration is that he is overjoyed that the son has returned, and that he is always willing to share all that he has with his children 鈥� generously, and without limit.
So perhaps this story would be best called 鈥榯he parable of the prodigal dad鈥�?听
The father in this story is often used in Church to represent God 鈥� the gracious giver, the one who welcomes us with love and without judgement. But what if we used this image to represent ourselves, and saw it as a challenge to us 鈥� as human beings, as spiritual beings 鈥� to be people of wasteful generosity?听 We have certainly seen a hugely generous response over the past months towards the displaced, those seeking refuge and haven in our country 鈥� and that generosity continues with refugee support groups springing up all over Vancouver Island.
What if we applied such non-judgemental generosity in all of our dealings with one another?听 How different would our world look if we were 鈥揳s individuals and as a society 鈥� more active in our wasteful generosity towards one another?听 If we stopped judging others on their looks, or background, or riches, or achievements?
For those of us who claim a spiritual path a crucial part of our journey, our calling, is to learn to love generously and without limit. Not to be na茂ve or uninformed, but to open ourselves to one another and to seek the best not just for ourselves and those who look, sound, or think like us, but to seek the best for all people.听 It鈥檚 certainly a message that Jesus lived out; he was accused repeatedly by the religious types of his day of spending too much time with the 鈥榰ndesirables鈥� of society.
So often the message of 鈥榬eligion鈥� seems to be about building walls 鈥� around ourselves, our community, our way of believing, and our religious practice.听 The great leaders of the religious traditions of the world, including Jesus, seemed much more about welcoming and accepting people into new ways of seeing, of loving, and of living.听 If we were more like that, perhaps we would truly know what it means to be prodigal 鈥� generously and expansively wasteful in our care and compassion for all.
Alastair McCollum听is Rector of St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Victoria. He has a passion for the Gospel, motorbikes and bike culture, worship, philosophy, theology, guitars, single malt whisky, real ale, cinema and all things French.听You can find Alastair at the church website: 听and听on his blog:听
You can read more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking,听
* This article was published in the print edition of the sa国际传媒 on Saturday, March 12 2016
