An Episcopal Sermon: March 30, 2025

Welcome to An Episcopal Sermon Podcast! Each weekly podcast episode is a live recording from our church in San Jose, California of the Gospel reading followed by an Episcopal Sermon based on that reading. Our desire and work are to participate every day in building God’s dream of a just and peaceful world, where all can thrive and find wholeness. A new episode is posted on our website every Monday (in case you missed it on Sunday). This podcast provides thought provoking messages that can be listened to anywhere at anytime. Visit our website to learn more about The Episcopal Church in Almaden/San Jose Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.churchinalmaden.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subject of Sermon: The parable of the prodigal son, his elder brother, and their loving father.

Sermon By: The Rev. Karen Cuffie at The Episcopal Church in Almaden.

Today's Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

“ All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And
the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow
welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So Jesus told them this parable:
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his
father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.'
So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger
son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he
squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent
everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he
began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the
citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He
would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating;
and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said,
'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare,
but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will
say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no
longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired
hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off,
his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his
arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have
sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called
your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the
best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his
feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this
son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And
they began to celebrate.

"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.'" ”

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