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Historical Cultural Context
Fourth Sunday of Lent C
March 31, 2019
John J. Pilch

Forgiven

The parable of the two lost sons (Lk 15:11-32) is Jesus’ self justification for “hosting” sinners at table fellowship (Lk 15:1-2).

The younger son (Lk 15:11-24). Fathers were discouraged from distributing inheritance during their lifetime (Sir 33:20-24). But if he did, a father still was entitled to live off the proceeds while he lived.

This son acts shamefully, effectively wishing his father were dead. That the father did not explode and discipline him on the spot testifies to the depth of his love.

The elder son is no better. Instead of protesting the inappropriate property division and refusing his share, he accepts it (Lk 15:12). And he makes no effort to reconcile his father and brother as culture demanded that he should. His behavior is equally shameful.

What did the elder son do? That is the question the Pharisees and scribes and the modern believer must answer.
The younger son sinks deeper into shame. Selling his share of the family wealth infuriates his village neighbors (see 1 Kings 21:3). Losing his money to non-Judeans through wasteful spending in a far-off land makes things worse. When the famine comes, he begins to starve.

In desperation, he tries to leech on to a wealthy patron, who in turn hopes to repel him by assigning a repulsive job. To the amazement of all, this Judaic lad agrees to feed pigs.

Still he starves. The carob pods fed to the pigs were the wild variety with bitter berries, nauseating and insufficiently nourishing to humans. Even though entitled to a share of butchered animals, the Judaic boy could not eat this forbidden food.

Motivated by his severe hunger, he regrets having lost the money (Lk 15:17-19). Not only can he no longer support himself, but he is also unable now to care for his father in old age. This he deeply regrets.

His solution? He resolves to become a “hired servant” of his family, thereby regaining a measure of honor, independence, and a social status equal to his brother and father. Moreover, he will be able to pay back what he lost, that is, he will be able to take care of his father for as long as the father lives.

He is willing to accept the shameful fact that the village will disown, reject, and physically abuse him for taking inheritance from the father before his death and then losing it to Gentiles, that is, non-Judeans (See Sir 26:5). He judges this a small price to pay for life and food.

The father then acts totally out of cultural character. He runs (very inappropriate for an elder) the gauntlet the village has prepared for the returning wayward son. He publicly forgives the son by kissing him again and again on the cheeks, and heals the broken relationship between them.

The best robe is certainly the father’s. It will guarantee the son’s acceptance by the community at the banquet. The signet ring indicates enormous trust. The sandals are a sign of being a free man in the house, not a servant. By placing sandals on his feet, the servants signal their reacceptance of him as son.

Killing the calf means the entire village will be invited and prodded toward forgiveness. This size animal can feed more than one hundred people.

The elder son (Lk 15:25-32). Instead of honoring his father by accepting his brother and playing his appropriate role as chief host at the meal, the elder son publicly insults and humiliates his father (Lk 15:28-30).

Here the parable ends, rather abruptly.

What did the elder son do? That is the question the Pharisees and scribes (see Lk 15:2) and the modern believer must answer. What would you do?

John J. Pilch
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John J. Pilch was a biblical scholar and facilitator of parish renewals.
Liturgical Press has published fourteen books by Pilch exploring the cultural world of the Bible.
Go to http://www.litpress.org/ to find out more.
Art by Martin Erspamer, OSB
from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C).
This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go http://www.ltp.org
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