‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’ (Luke 15:25-32)
Last week we thought about how the father in the prodigal son’s parable seemed to be very permissive and was waiting for his son’s return as well as how he allowed his older son to complain and vent his frustrations without a word against such a behaviour. Today as we get ready for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter, we focus on the father’s joy. Towards the end of the parable, we hear the father saying in response to the older son’s complaint, “we had to celebrate and rejoice.”
The return of the prodigal is an occasion of celebration and rejoicing. We need to remember that the parable was preceded by the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost sheep. In the case of the lost sheep, the search by the shepherd was extensive. Indeed, he left the ninety-nine safely and went out to search for the one that was lost. When he returned after finding the lost one, he called on his neighbour to rejoice with him. The same goes with the parable of the lost coin. The woman who lost one of ten coins also called on her neighbour to rejoice with her for finding it.
Today we will look at two aspects of this rejoicing: 1. The delight of finding the lost one; 2. The completeness of joy when shared with others.
The delight that comes from finding something precious is universal. Even when it is something small, if that something is what I cherished so much, then, we search and search until we find it. It does not have to be something I care much for also. I remember looking for a glue together two pieces of metal. Yes, such a thing exists. A piece of aluminium was going to be attached to a piece of thin iron plate. I thought I knew where it was. When I looked at where I thought I put it after I used it the last time, it wasn’t there. So I searched. Then, I searched more. Soon I turned the entire house upside down. Of course, YoungMi asked why I did not just go out and buy another one, but I was so sure I knew where it was and kept on looking. Finally after spending nearly a full day, I found it just a few centimetres away from where I put it. You should have seen the delight. I sounded as if I found a bar of gold.
Can you imagine what father’s delight was like when he finally was able to receive his son back?
The sharing of joy is something we often do not think about. In my case, I went right up to YoungMi and told her where I found it. It was a sheer delight I was sharing. This rejoicing needed to be shared. Somehow all that energy was all worthwhile when I was able to tell her that I finally found it. On some level this sounds really petty and trite. After all, it is a glue. It is something I could buy for a few dollars. Just like a little child insisting on finding an old beat up and very torn up doll, the whole ordeal of finding it leads to the sharing of the immense joy of finding it. We share it because it is so important to us.
The father speaks of this joy and delight of the return of the prodigal son this way with the older son, “We (have) to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” In a way he is reminding the older son that he, too, is part of the celebration and is invited to share in the rejoicing.
Whether the older son accepted the father’s invitation or not is beside the point. By saying how the prodigal son was found, the father shares his joy with the unhappy older son.
A short summary of this morning’s meeting
This morning after the devotion a few people came together to discuss how people are adjusting to things that are happening at the church in the past year or so. Everyone who came expressed gratitude for the positive things that are happening at the church as we welcome more and more newcomers. Everyone shared their excitement. We share some suggestions that were made in the meeting:
- Name tag with the first name and where each person is from
- A way of mingling and introducing one another to get to know each other better
- Putting English translation on the slides when the presentation is being made
To this end, I will see if we can organize a late afternoon early evening get together for everyone on Easter Monday. I will speak with a few people and let you know by this coming Sunday.
Volunteers for April and May Refreshments
There will be an empty list available for volunteers to fill for Sundays in April and May for refreshments on Sunday.
Communion Sunday
This coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, is our communion Sunday. We are hoping that you will join us for communion.
Lent Devotion
There is one more Wednesday Lent Devotion next week. Please mark the date and time. It will be on Wednesday, March 27 at 10 am.
Good Friday
We will have a Good Friday Service of Worship on Good Friday, March 29 at 10:30 am.
Easter Sunday
It is one of the most important Christian celebrations. This Easter Sunday will be very special. Please come and join us. Bring your family and friends.
Last week we thought about how the father in the prodigal son’s parable seemed to be very permissive and was waiting for his son’s return as well as how he allowed his older son to complain and vent his frustrations without a word against such a behaviour. Today as we get ready for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter, we focus on the father’s joy. Towards the end of the parable, we hear the father saying in response to the older son’s complaint, “we had to celebrate and rejoice.”
The return of the prodigal is an occasion of celebration and rejoicing. We need to remember that the parable was preceded by the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost sheep. In the case of the lost sheep, the search by the shepherd was extensive. Indeed, he left the ninety-nine safely and went out to search for the one that was lost. When he returned after finding the lost one, he called on his neighbour to rejoice with him. The same goes with the parable of the lost coin. The woman who lost one of ten coins also called on her neighbour to rejoice with her for finding it.
Today we will look at two aspects of this rejoicing: 1. The delight of finding the lost one; 2. The completeness of joy when shared with others.
The delight that comes from finding something precious is universal. Even when it is something small, if that something is what I cherished so much, then, we search and search until we find it. It does not have to be something I care much for also. I remember looking for a glue together two pieces of metal. Yes, such a thing exists. A piece of aluminium was going to be attached to a piece of thin iron plate. I thought I knew where it was. When I looked at where I thought I put it after I used it the last time, it wasn’t there. So I searched. Then, I searched more. Soon I turned the entire house upside down. Of course, YoungMi asked why I did not just go out and buy another one, but I was so sure I knew where it was and kept on looking. Finally after spending nearly a full day, I found it just a few centimetres away from where I put it. You should have seen the delight. I sounded as if I found a bar of gold.
Can you imagine what father’s delight was like when he finally was able to receive his son back?
The sharing of joy is something we often do not think about. In my case, I went right up to YoungMi and told her where I found it. It was a sheer delight I was sharing. This rejoicing needed to be shared. Somehow all that energy was all worthwhile when I was able to tell her that I finally found it. On some level this sounds really petty and trite. After all, it is a glue. It is something I could buy for a few dollars. Just like a little child insisting on finding an old beat up and very torn up doll, the whole ordeal of finding it leads to the sharing of the immense joy of finding it. We share it because it is so important to us.
The father speaks of this joy and delight of the return of the prodigal son this way with the older son, “We (have) to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” In a way he is reminding the older son that he, too, is part of the celebration and is invited to share in the rejoicing.
Whether the older son accepted the father’s invitation or not is beside the point. By saying how the prodigal son was found, the father shares his joy with the unhappy older son.
A short summary of this morning’s meeting
This morning after the devotion a few people came together to discuss how people are adjusting to things that are happening at the church in the past year or so. Everyone who came expressed gratitude for the positive things that are happening at the church as we welcome more and more newcomers. Everyone shared their excitement. We share some suggestions that were made in the meeting:
- Name tag with the first name and where each person is from
- A way of mingling and introducing one another to get to know each other better
- Putting English translation on the slides when the presentation is being made
To this end, I will see if we can organize a late afternoon early evening get together for everyone on Easter Monday. I will speak with a few people and let you know by this coming Sunday.
Volunteers for April and May Refreshments
There will be an empty list available for volunteers to fill for Sundays in April and May for refreshments on Sunday.
Communion Sunday
This coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, is our communion Sunday. We are hoping that you will join us for communion.
Lent Devotion
There is one more Wednesday Lent Devotion next week. Please mark the date and time. It will be on Wednesday, March 27 at 10 am.
Good Friday
We will have a Good Friday Service of Worship on Good Friday, March 29 at 10:30 am.
Easter Sunday
It is one of the most important Christian celebrations. This Easter Sunday will be very special. Please come and join us. Bring your family and friends.
Last week we thought about how the father in the prodigal son’s parable seemed to be very permissive and was waiting for his son’s return as well as how he allowed his older son to complain and vent his frustrations without a word against such a behaviour. Today as we get ready for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter, we focus on the father’s joy. Towards the end of the parable, we hear the father saying in response to the older son’s complaint, “we had to celebrate and rejoice.” The return of the prodigal is an occasion of celebration and rejoicing. We need to remember that the parable was preceded by the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost sheep. In the case of the lost sheep, the search by the shepherd was extensive. Indeed, he left the ninety-nine safely and went out to search for the one that was lost. When he returned after finding the lost one, he called on his neighbour to rejoice with him. The same goes with the parable of the lost coin. The woman who lost one of ten coins also called on her neighbour to rejoice with her for finding it. Today we will look at two aspects of this rejoicing: 1. The delight of finding the lost one; 2. The completeness of joy when shared with others. The delight that comes from finding something precious is universal. Even when it is something small, if that something is what I cherished so much, then, we search and search until we find it. It does not have to be something I care much for also. I remember looking for a glue together two pieces of metal. Yes, such a thing exists. A piece of aluminium was going to be attached to a piece of thin iron plate. I thought I knew where it was. When I looked at where I thought I put it after I used it the last time, it wasn’t there. So I searched. Then, I searched more. Soon I turned the entire house upside down. Of course, YoungMi asked why I did not just go out and buy another one, but I was so sure I knew where it was and kept on looking. Finally after spending nearly a full day, I found it just a few centimetres away from where I put it. You should have seen the delight. I sounded as if I found a bar of gold. Can you imagine what father’s delight was like when he finally was able to receive his son back? The sharing of joy is something we often do not think about. In my case, I went right up to YoungMi and told her where I found it. It was a sheer delight I was sharing. This rejoicing needed to be shared. Somehow all that energy was all worthwhile when I was able to tell her that I finally found it. On some level this sounds really petty and trite. After all, it is a glue. It is something I could buy for a few dollars. Just like a little child insisting on finding an old beat up and very torn up doll, the whole ordeal of finding it leads to the sharing of the immense joy of finding it. We share it because it is so important to us. The father speaks of this joy and delight of the return of the prodigal son this way with the older son, “We (have) to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” In a way he is reminding the older son that he, too, is part of the celebration and is invited to share in the rejoicing. Whether the older son accepted the father’s invitation or not is beside the point. By saying how the prodigal son was found, the father shares his joy with the unhappy older son. A short summary of this morning’s meeting This morning after the devotion a few people came together to discuss how people are adjusting to things that are happening at the church in the past year or so. Everyone who came expressed gratitude for the positive things that are happening at the church as we welcome more and more newcomers. Everyone shared their excitement. We share some suggestions that were made in the meeting: Name tag with the first name and where each person is from A way of mingling and introducing one another to get to know each other better Putting English translation on the slides when the presentation is being made To this end, I will see if we can organize a late afternoon early evening get together for everyone on Easter Monday. I will speak with a few people and let you know by this coming Sunday. Volunteers for April and May Refreshments There will be an empty list available for volunteers to fill for Sundays in April and May for refreshments on Sunday. Communion Sunday This coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, is our communion Sunday. We are hoping that you will join us for communion. Lent Devotion There is one more Wednesday Lent Devotion next week. Please mark the date and time. It will be on Wednesday, March 27 at 10 am. Good Friday We will have a Good Friday Service of Worship on Good Friday, March 29 at 10:30 am. Easter Sunday It is one of the most important Christian celebrations. This Easter Sunday will be very special. Please come and join us. Bring your family and friends.