Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“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. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 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.
“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.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“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. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 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.’ ” Luke 5: 11-32
One of my favorite parables and difficult to chose which line speaks to my heart. Today, Lord, though, is the the sentence:
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.
I love the concept, Lord, that you not only forgave the son,
You not only received him back, you celebrated his return
You didn’t wait until he came all the way home
You didn’t let him even say anything at first.
Your first reaction was run to him while he was still far away and love him.
Reminds me of the song by Phillips, Craig and Dean
with the chorus:
with the chorus:“Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran”
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran”
Or the book by Henri Nouwen, The Prodigal Son where he writes his reflections on the painting, the characters, the painter and the scriptures. Nouwen said the he could no longer think of God as being hard to find. God is the one doing the looking; we are the ones lingering outside or even hiding.
where he writes his reflections on the painting, the characters, the painter and the scriptures. Nouwen said the he could no longer think of God as being hard to find. God is the one doing the looking; we are the ones lingering outside or even hiding.God, while I drift away, linger in far off corners, away from You, You watch over me. Thank you for searching for us and surprising us with your love. .
Colleen, isn’t it amazing how God works?
Thanks for the encouragement Johnnie
I wrote a reflection today on this parable and guess which verse I chose?
God is good. Blessings!
I’m catching up on blog-reading. This is a great series you’re writing, Jeanie. You’re choosing such interesting women to highlight.
This is one of my favorite Bible stories. Thanks, Karen
I love that part. too, Jeanie. Good words for me today. Thanks