In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11-32), Jesus
tells us of the journey of the youngest son of a father, who wants to go out on
his own. He demands to collect his inheritance early and strikes out on his
own. His father, loving and supportive, allows his son to leave the safety and
comfort of home. Aside from the demand for an early inheritance, many of us can
relate to, and maybe even admire, the courage of a young man going out on his
own. But that is where the story takes a turn for the worse.
The young man took his inheritance and, “journeyed to a far
country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” (Luke 15.13)
After losing everything he possessed, he was left to eat pig slop, “and no one
gave him anything.” (Luke 15.16) All those he knew in this far country were no
help in his pain. He was suffering from some very poor choices. Jesus said, “He
came to himself,” (Luke 15.17) and chose to return to his father, not as a son,
but as a servant. At least he would have food in his stomach and a roof over
his head.
This young man expressed humility by returning to his
father, and his father “ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15.20)
He had been welcomed back to the family and FULLY restored to his original
place in the family. The young man’s humility gave him not just a roof and
food, but a family and a home.
This man represents each of us and the choices we make in
life. Many times we find ourselves suffering from the poor choices we make, and
none of our friends helps us. It only takes the willingness to humble
ourselves, admit our poor choices through Holy Confession, and we will be FULLY
restored by Christ to His family – The Church! We will not receive simply food
and a roof, but we will have Communion with God in Heaven! We don’t have to
remain with the pigs, when our Father welcomes us home.
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