In today’s parable, Death came to the youngest son, in that far-off land, and asked its question. “I see you’ve become destitute,” said Death. “Here you are very far from home, with no money and no friends. Now that even the pigs eat better than you, do you still believe that life is beautiful?”

Perhaps to his own surprise, the son answered Death with a memory of Paradise. “In my father’s house,” said the son, “there were feasts, and friends, and fields. There was music, and dancing, and jewelry, and fine clothing.” And as he answered, something which had been dead in him began coming back to life. He started to feel again that life was indeed beautiful: and all this because of a memory.

Sermon starts at minute marker 8:10

 ​​​​Luke 15.1-32

Resources

• Text of Sermon
• Alves, Rubem. The Poet, The Warrior and the Prophet.
• Alves, Rubem. Transparencies. 
  • This sermon is, in large part, a conversation with the final chapters of the Alves texts.
• Oliver, Mary. “A Voice From I Don’t Know Where.”
• Image: Praise the Lord! By Randy Horst (posted on page below) 

Hymn 300 - Far, Far Away / I Will Arise. Text: based on Luke 15:1-24; vers. anon., “The Prodigal Son,” Gospel Songs (USA), 1874 Music: American traditional (USA), Southern Harmony, 1835; harm. Charles H. Webb (USA) Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929. All rights reserved.