The prodigal son is always a story which has had very little meaning to me.   Well, let me try again.  The story of the prodigal son has been a parable that I have read and looked at in a very one dimensional manner.  As a young child I remember being read the parable by a teacher in Sunday School and then coloring a picture of an old man embracing a younger.  Although I don't believe it is a bad thing to remember the story in this way, it is probably not the way that I understand it now.  Watching, reading, and hearing the story of "The Man With The Golden Voice"  reminded me of the parable of the prodigal son.

The Parable of the Lost Son

Luke 15: 11-31

 ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

   ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

   ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

   ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

   ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

   ²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

   ²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

   ³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

 Reading this story again, I am filled with a sense of mystery and confusion.  Do the father's actions show he loves the son who broke his heart more than the one who was faithful all along? Most likely not.  But, how was the father to contain his joy?  I have been blessed with close family relationships and have never felt the pain that comes from self inflicted separation from ones parents.  But, today watching the following video I immediately thought of this parable.  

 

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 Viewing the above video in contrast to this video makes it a little easier to understand the hurt and the pain that these sons have put their parents through.

This second video seems equally moving because it brings into perspective the hurt and pain that each son inflicted on his family. What an awesome thing for parents to be able to forgive in such a beautiful way.  Even though it is easy to ignore and refuse to acknowledge, WE are the beloved children of God!  No matter what we do, how much we try to forget, or even how long we try to separate ourselves from his love.  No matter how much self destructive behavior of all kinds that we indulge in GOD still calls his own.  In fact he calls each of us by our own name with the same love that Ms. Williams embraces her son with.

Isaiah 43

Israel’s Only Savior

 ¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
   he who created you, Jacob,
   he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the LORD your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
   Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
   and because I love you,

 This leads me to the final reflection about the parable, the mystery. Why is it so easy for the parent to forgive in this story?  Why is it so easy for God to forgive us?  Why can we not forgive ourselves with the same ease that Ms. Williams and the father in parable do?  Is it pride or just the opposite shame?  Regardless of the answer I believe I do know the solution or, a way to begin to solve it; the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit enables us to do so many things that we never felt possible. 

Mathew 11: 28-30

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 Prayer:

Father God, you are the parent who loves and forgives.  Lord Jesus, we pray that your love and forgiveness would be more fully realized in our lives and the lives others. Please help us to remember that we are your beloved called by name. 

AMEN.