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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is party time. A party is a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment. In Luke 15:11-32, we learn about the parable of the prodigal son, who after leaving the protection of his father with his share of the property, returned a wretched person to seek his father’s forgiveness and restoration. Father was happy to have his lost and prodigal son back home there he instructed his servants, “‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:22-24)

Dear friend, the key lesson for today’s reflection is that parties are thrown for the living, not the dead. How can a father be partying when the son is lost in a distant country? How can God be happy when his child is dead and lost to sin? How can the Church of Christ be in a celebratory mood when sinners are out there to be saved? It was party time because the disobedient son had finally found his way back home to where he belonged. Are we also this excited when people come to the church desiring to be saved? What kind of hospitality do we accord them as lost but found children of God? God expect us to go look for those who are dead and lost to sin and when we find them bring them back home for restoration and revival amidst celebration. It is for this reason, Jesus said to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20) It is for this reason Jesus instruct us in Matthew 28:18-20. When we are able to rescue the lost and dead, Jesus assures that “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7). The church must not only be interested in those who are saved but also show much more interest in those who are behind the walls of salvation and also extend a joyful invitation to them to come to Jesus. For the Lord takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. (Ezekiel 33:11)

Beloved in the Lord, there is an interesting culture in most African countries which has found its ugly head in the Church of Christ. The kind of enthusiasm we express for the living is very low compared to that which we express for the dead during funerals. Few people will turn up when a party is being organised for the living but usually, the whole community will come to the same person’s funeral, eat, drink and certainly dance and enjoy good music at the expense of the bereaved family. Funerals have become party time for many. Family and friends, will not attend a person’s thanksgiving service or an occasion that calls for celebration in their numbers but when the same person dies his or her funeral is massively attended and a party is organised at the end which is marked with eating, drinking, dancing and hoarding of food and drinks commonly known as “take away”. We must begin to develop a culture of celebrating the living and not the dead. It is interesting how funerals have now turned into a competition of proving how wealthy a family is, the bigger the party during a funeral the more renowned and prestigious the bereaved family is perceived in the eyes of the society. It is for this reason, there is unnecessary pressure on families to sometimes go for loans to organise mega funerals. Should Christians condone or continue to entertain this kind of culture or practice in the Church? Can we do things differently? The story of the prodigal son teaches us that a party is meaningful to a person who is “dead and is alive again…was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24). In other words, the father of the prodigal son was not partying while the son was lost, but immediately he found him it was party time! This must be our attitude towards the living, we are to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15) Shalom.

PRAYER (Hymn: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying)

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Refrain:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. Amen

Holy Spirit, empower us to rescue those who are perishing so that when they are restored we shall have the cause to party and celebrate the goodness and the grace of God in their lives. Amen.