The Parable of the Prodigal Chocolate Cake

Lent 4C

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

March 31, 2019

St. Matthias

           This morning we hear once again the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  I would guess I’ve probably read it at least a hundred times. I’ve probably preached on it at least a dozen Sundays through the years.  But this time something new happened.   A new thought popped in my mind as I read the Gospel – Chocolate Cake!  We all know that if you have a Chocolate Cake in the refrigerator – that it speaks – it calls to me telling me that I want some.  The moment the thought of that cake enters my mind – suddenly that is all I can think about.  I want some.  Doesn’t matter if I have just eaten.  Doesn’t matter if I’m about to eat.  I want cake.  And the more I try not to think about it – the more I do and the louder the voice inside my head tells me that I want chocolate cake. 

And strangely enough – I found out this week that it’s all biology – actually neuro-biology.  Dr. Susan David from Harvard Medical School has written a book titled Emotional Agility and in it, she tells me that this craving for Chocolate Cake or anything we love that’s in the refrigerator is not just mental – it’s also physical – and IT IS in our heads.  When we want something – all these chemicals in our brains go to work and cause the cravings.  So, the good news is - WE aren’t crazy.  And the more we try NOT to think about it – the more the chemicals in our brain go to work – and the more we want cake. 

           Now while you are thinking about the Chocolate Cake – and I know you all are – let's go back to the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  Ask yourself – WHY did he leave home?  Clearly, he already had everything he needed.  He appears to come from a wealthy family.  Luke tells us that his Father owned slaves and land and even a fatted calf.  It sounds like he lived a pretty good life right there on the farm.  But the younger son wanted more - MORE than he already HAD.  So, he takes his half of everything and goes off to the city looking for MORE.  And we all know what happens.  And what struck me about this parable that I have read so many times before is that the younger son just didn’t realize that he had ENOUGH.

           So do I!  And really – if I’m honest with myself - I have MORE than enough.  This year – like we do pretty much every year - SOME time before the start of Lent - Phyllis will look at me and ask what I am going to give up for Lent.  After all, I am the priest and so I need to set an example.  Apparently, Brussel Sprouts is not considered in her mind to be a qualified Lenten discipline.  And I have to admit – she has me beat this year.  Every day of Lent, she is giving up 1 thing.  Actually, she is giving it away.  Most of it to Goodwill in Birmingham.  She found the idea on Facebook – which incidentally she also gave up for Lent.  One day she may give away a pair of shoes or a dress.  She has let go of furniture we’ve had forever but really don’t need anymore.  Phyllis is cleaning out her stuff and making more room in her life.  The other day she told me it has been one of the best Lenten disciplines ever.

           In my own daily meditations, I have been thinking about how much is ENOUGH and what do I need MORE of?  I NEED around 8 hours of sleep every night.  I have a roof over my head and a bed.  I NEED 3 meals a day.  I have never gone hungry.  My list of things I NEED in this life is really pretty short.  And I have ENOUGH.  God gives me ENOUGH.  There is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit that we find here at St. Matthias that fills my soul and shows me God’s love.  I look in your faces and I see the very image of Christ looking back at me.  There are bread and wine that together we share at this altar rail – spiritual food for our spiritual journeys – and it is ENOUGH.  Actually, MORE than ENOUGH.  We share food with those who are hungry and send prayers to women in prison.  We pray for those who are sick and in need of God’s special care.  Lent is a time when we can stop and give thanks for all we have and ask God to show us all of our blessings.  It took a bunch of pigs to teach the younger son that he already had more than ENOUGH at home.  He always did.

           But we can ALSO learn from his older brother in this parable.  He is the GOOD son who stayed at home.  But yet he wants MORE of the wrong things for the WRONG reasons.  The older son wants HIS own fatted calf to celebrate with HIS friends.  He too had enough, and he too wanted MORE even though he never left the family farm.  Remember the old Janis Joplin song, “O Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz.”  Remember the Chocolate Cake.  The worst Lent for me was the year I told my students at St. George’s School in Memphis that I was giving up coffee for Lent.  I now realize that I must surely have lost my mind.  All I could think about was coffee and more coffee and how many commercials on television there are about coffee and how many Starbucks seem to be on every corner.  It was the longest Lent of my life.  What I should have been seeking was MORE opportunities to serve God and my neighbors including my students.  Everywhere around us are people looking for hope and joy and love.  We have all those and more.  God fills us to overflowing and calls us to share that hope and joy and love with the people we see every day.  We have MORE than ENOUGH of God’s grace to share. 

           So, who is still thinking about Chocolate Cake?  It’s OK so am I.  Have a piece and give thanks that God gives us ENOUGH and MORE to share.  Stay on the Farm.  AMEN.