A sermon revisited

The sermon this morning focused on Esau returning home just after Jacob and Rebekkah had deceived Isaac. Esau returned after Isaac had sent him away to hunt game and prepare his favorite stew....and then receive the Hebrew patriarchal blessing. Jacob, the deceiver, beat Esau to the punch, and received the blessing in a dramatic episode of trickery and dress-up. Disguised as Esau, Jacob conned Isaac into giving him the blessing intended for the oldest Son. Esau went about doing the task that Isaac had given him, returned from the field, and prepared the stew. He appeared before his father and said,"Father, here I am", to which he was greeted by the words that would probably haunt him forever. Looking into the face of his old, blind, pitiful, scammed father, Esau hears the question, "Who are You?" The welcome mat just got yanked from beneath the tired, clay mired feet of Esau, the hairy one.This story is extremely interesting when compared to the story of The Prodigal. The selfish Prodigal was welcomed with open arms by the Father who ran to meet him, and embraced him, and welcomed him home. Even after the son had been living it up with Women, Booze, and sleeping and eating with the pigs, the father said...Welcome Home.How do you view God? As the one who fails to even know who you are? As the one who gives Your blessing to someone else? Or perhaps he is the God who throws a party when you return to him and restores all that has been broken.This morning I saw a tear in the eye of a visitor during the sermon. She had been invited to worship by her neighbor. A few moments later she approached the Table, and heard the words, "The Body of Christ....Broken for You and The Blood of Christ Given for You", to which she replied..."Thanks Be To God." Although I did not smell the fatted calf, I could see a celebration begin on her face, realizing that God knows her intimately, and that she is welcomed home. Now, if I can only remember that the naked preacher can also look down and see the Welcome mat at the door of my Father's house. So...party On!!