Day 16 Advent Reading -- Luke Chapter 15

This chapter contains three fairly family parables:  lost sheep; lost coin; and the prodigal son.

As you read these parables, consider who you are in the parable and choose the person you would not usually be.

The Lost Sheep:  consider how this story plays out if you are one of the 99 sheep left while the shepherd goes looking for the lost sheep (What do you think of the selfish, or silly, or stupid sheep who has gotten lost and now demands the attention of the shepherd who should be giving you attention?).  Or consider what the shepherd might be thinking as he looks for the lost sheep (Is he feeling very gracious as his work day extends to looking for the sheep?).

The Lost Coin:  Be one of the neighbors invited to rejoice with the woman who has found the lost coin (Do you really care about her finding it?).

The Prodigal Son:  Try being the older brother (the return of the younger brother upsets your plans a bit).  Or what about the mother, from whom we hear nothing.  What is she thinking?  Or maybe there was a sister (again, not mentioned) who isn't getting an inheritance whether the brother comes back or not, and whose role and power in the family is not impacted by whether the brother returns or not, because she has no power in the patriarchal world in which she lives.