There is a real temptation to skim quickly when we read
familiar scripture passages not thinking deeply about what we have read and
trusting in our past knowledge of the text. Sometimes that is okay, but at some
point these texts deserve a close, prayerful, reading.
This reading is commonly called The Parable of the Prodigal Son. More recently, I have heard people
refer to it as The Parable of the Lost
Son. Those titles, however, misses the point. There are two sons and a
father in the parable. At some point, each of the sons is lost. At some point,
the father goes to each of his sons to restore them.
What is Jesus’ point in the parable? It is that the
Father (notice the capital “F” – I am speaking of God now) longs to be
reconciled with his children, and he is not about to sit back and wait. He
acts. He seeks. He watches. He comes to us to forgive us.
The parable invites us to see ourselves as each of the
sons. On the one hand, we can be prodigal pursuers of fleshly passions who
squander our godly inheritance on wine, women, and song (or, in a more modern
vein, sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll). On the other hand, we can be like the older
brother, willful, selfishly callous, and empty of grace for our brothers (and
sisters).
The parable also invites us to see how deep and rich God’s
grace and mercy are. It overwhelms us with the lavish love that he pours out on
his sons, providing us a picture of God’s passion for his people.
In the end, the invitation is to recognize that we are
God’s children who fall so far short of our Father’s goodness, but we are
recipients of his plentiful grace because of his grace.
When have you experienced the Father’s love when you knew
you did not deserve it? How does the father’s over-the-top mercy to his sons picture
how the Father has treated you?
Lord Jesus, you
told this parable to make a point about our sin and your Father’s forgiveness.
Thank you for the unfathomable forgiveness you have won for us, and for
reconciling to God through your death and resurrection. Forgive us, Lord Jesus,
for the times we have behaved like the younger brother, wasting our time,
talents, and treasures living for earthly pleasures. Forgive us for the times
we have behaved like the older brother, pouting and refusing to celebrate the
salvation you bring to those we consider unworthy of your love. Teach us to
treasure the Father’s love and help us to find our true identity in the grace
that he has shown us for your sake. Amen.
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