"Lost Causes," A Lenten Devotion
FourthSunday of Lent Devotional Rev. LeeCheek
Old Testament: Joshua 5:9-12
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Lost Causes
Thegreat poet T. S. Eliot once suggested there were no “lost causes.” The statement is rather peculiar when firstencountered, as all of us can think of family, friends, places, and the like,that we would like to avoid or at least forget. We also do not have to look around too closely to see “lost causes.” A friend of mine inherited an old wool cloakfrom his grandfather, a once fancy piece of clothing he would wear at formalevents. When asked why he adored the oldpiece of clothing, my friend responded “this coat has outlived the Russianczar, the Hapsburg Empire, and the Ottoman Empire”—all “lost causes.” Like my friend’s example, we have to considerthat some “lost causes” are not really lost at all.
Moreimportantly, many of us have considered ourselves lost causes to somedegree. The Parable of the Prodigal Sonteaches us that no one is beyond the possibility of Divine forgiveness, redemption, and externallife with God.
As ayoung minister over thirty years ago in North Carolina, I faced a challenge Icould not resolve. My communion steward,an elderly lady and vital part of the church, asked me to visit her son, Jerry,and she later informed me that he was a very serious alcoholic, but stillliving with his wife and three children across the street from the church. Jerry, in fact, was a proverbial “stone’s throw” from my office,but I had never encountered him. Icalled Jerry, but could not contact him by phone. I left notes on his door, and in his mailbox,all to no avail. Community and church memberswho noticed me attempting to visit Jerry suggested I would not be able to reachhim, as he had lost his job as a computer programmer a decade earlier, and hadeven been removed from his post as the local Kiwanis president because of hisaddiction and troubling behavior. Jerry’suncle informed me that Jerry’s shadow had not darkened the church door in aquarter century. He was a true “lostcause” in the estimation of those closest to him, except his faithful mother,and God.
A few days later, I saw some teenagersplaying badminton in his yard and recognized these folks as Jerry’schildren. I walked over to them andasked if Jerry was home, and the children told me he was asleep. I introduced myself, and the eldest of thechildren told me he would take me to his father. As we approached the house, the children, andJerry’s wife, began disparaging their father and husband, as I was escortedinto the family’s living room and finally meeting Jerry. We met for a few minutes and scheduled a timeto have a cup of coffee together. He wasa troubled but kind man. We met weeklyfor a month or so, and I asked Jerry if would accompany me to an AAmeeting. He agreed, and Jerry became aregular attendee, and even returned to church, and eventually to the churchchoir. Over the next year, the churchcommunity accepted Jerry back into the fold in a very Christlike manner. He experienced the renewal of his faith andhis most important commitments to family. Jerry had neglected and damaged his relations with many people due tohis substance abuse, but slowly, and with God’s help, he experienced personaland Divine forgiveness. With the help ofa loving God and a redemptive community, Jerry who was once a “lost cause,”became a gained cause, and a vital part of the community of faith.
Text Notes and Questions for Discussion
I. Luke 15 is one of the most famous chapters ofscripture in the Bible, and a beautiful teaching about the joy of God when Hischildren return to His fold. In Luke 15we find three parables (“Lost Sheep,” 15:3-7; “Lost Coin,” 15:8-10; and“Prodigal Son,” 15:11-32).
15:1-2 The Sinners Come Together
15: 11 and 12 Two sons and the sharing of property
15:13 “reckless” living
15:14 The two disasters
15:15 Swine Challenge
15.16 Thief?
15:17-19 Disillusionment
15:20-26 Central Issue
15:27-32 Conclusion
