Friday

March 11, 2016

But while he [the younger son] was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.                                                            Luke 15:20b-24

Thought:

I wish we could read this text, together, in the original Greek.  Because, you see, in the early verses of this story, the younger son tells his dad, in the vernacular, drop dead so I can have my inheritance NOW.  And, this same dad, several verses later, takes off running to reclaim his disrespectful son.  There is no greater love for the lost than is shown in this text, save the Savior’s love for us.

The love that seeks the Prodigal Son is the same love that runs towards us and offers us welcome and grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.  No matter who we are or where we have been, there is a meal and a robe, and a hug and a kiss, waiting.  Come home, beloved, to a God who longs to wrap you in unending and unconditional love, and keep you there, in the center of the heart of God.  Come home.