“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Christmas is prodigal.
At some point in the Advent season we simply have to silence the the cynic and just be in awe at the extravagance of the season otherwise we’ll miss the point. Go out into the world and see the lights, looks at the trees, hear the music and feel the joy. We all know there is excess, but God is a God of excess so go with it. Throughout the Bible Jesus uses metaphors of banquet (Matthew 22:2), party (Luke 15:6, Luke 15:9)and feast (Luke 14:15) to describe what God is preparing for those who are willing to come. Christmas offers not only an opportunity to give gifts to other, but to become more prodigal, like God, for no reason other than love and gratitude. So, taken all in all, Christmas is prodigal.
prod·i·gal (prd-gl) adj 1. Rashly or wastefully extravagant: 2. Giving or given in abundance; lavish or profuse: prodigal praise.
When I think of the word ‘prodigal’, I usually don’t think of Christmas at all, but perhaps I should. Most of the time I think of the ‘prodigal son’, disobedient, arrogant and consumed with self-gratification, but we must also remember a broken son, humiliated, alone and desperate. the word ‘prodigal’ really comes in based on how much the father loved this rebellious son and how far he was willing to go. This is the connection to Christmas. The story as it is told in Luke 15 is not really about how desperate the son became, but how lavish and extravagant the love of the father remained. When you consider Christmas, do you ever think about the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. You should. I think you’ll find the parallels to Christmas striking.
Now if you find you’re having a hard time moving into the extravagance of Christmas because of all the commercialism, the excess and the secularization then I suggest your look over Luke 15:28-30. It may speak to you.
“For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life—pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures—and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair.
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
Christmas Questions:
How are you letting yourself be found by God?
How are you letting yourself be known by God?
How will you let yourself be Loved by God?
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