Forgiven

 

Prodigal Son

  ‘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 15:11-32 NIV

The story of the prodigal son speaks of the compassionate love of a father for both his wayward sons. A father who never stops loving them even though they were outwardly or inwardly wayward. 

The rebellious younger son demands his inheritance, leaves home, and squanders his money. He sinks to the depths of despair, before he comes to his senses and asks for forgiveness.

The older son stays home, but gets bitter and resents his father’s decision to welcome his brother home. He demands that the father be unforgiving and heartless to his poor homeless brother. 

Who or where are we in our spiritual journey? The prodigal son coming to the Father for forgiveness, or the resentful older brother who does not want to forgive, or the compassionate Father reaching out in love to both his wayward sons.

Are we not blessed that we have an older brother in Christ who showed us how to behave and what to believe through his parables? Then as the only begotten son of God, Christ was willing to die for our sins so that we may find our way to our loving Father who gladly forgives us when we confess our sins.

Lord we are your hands and feet in this world today. Grant us grace to forgive one another and in so doing find joy in loving one another as you created us to be. Amen