Thinking about a Parable

Thinking about a Parable

Every time I read the Parable of the Lost Son, I’m always amazed at the grace and generosity displayed by the Father. It is such a comforting parable especially for frail beings like me who tend to wander away to a “far country”; so I would like to share my thoughts with people who may be ‘at home’, on the verge of wandering or those who have taken themselves off to a far place:

Sin takes us far away from God; wrong desires always make us wander away from the Father’s domain and take note that distance need not be physical. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had and, set off for a distant country…” (Luke 15:13a)

Sinful living dissipates us; it brings deprivation, shame and squalor (this troika doesn't always refer to material possessions) “He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating but no one gave him anything” (Luke 15:16)

Living away from the Father is akin to being away from our senses; it just doesn’t make sense! “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!’”(Luke 15:17)

Repentance is a decision and decisions are nothing if not followed through with concrete action. The younger son had fallen as low as he could so he decided to go back home and ask for forgiveness. “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father I have sinned against heaven and against you…so he got up and went to his father” (Luke 15:18-20a)

God knows the exact moment of repentance even when no evidence is visible to other people; the Father sees and meets the sinner at the point of repentance, no questions asked. “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” (Luke 15:20b). Our God is an affectionate Father!

True repentance makes no excuses, no rationalization or justification. It involves saying it as it is: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21)

God celebrates repentance lavishly; he doesn’t wait for us to work to earn brownie points and approval. The celebration of a changed heart and mind is immediate: “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate” (Luke 15:22)

This last point is for those who are at home with the Father: enjoy His presence and know that his love is enough to go round. Don’t resent the person who’s wandered off and come back home, they’ve already missed out on all the time you’ve had with the Father and that can’t be regained (Luke 15:29-32)