Lose Something ?

When we look at this story from the perspective of the father, we can see that the father is really a stand-in for God and the way in which the father treats the wayward son, as well as the faithful son, is the same way God treats all of us wayward, as well as faithful sons and daughters of Christ. We are all given the opportunity for new life.

We can all identify with the feelings of the older brother, angered at what does not seem fair. We can also identify with what it is like to be the younger brother. Some of us have run off and become estranged from God. We’ve also done things that have caused us to be estranged from family and friends. Like the younger son, some of us have experienced what it is like to be welcomed back and forgiven by God and those people in our lives that we have hurt.

But how many of us can identify with the father in the story ? How many of us can say we have forgiven and welcomed back those in our lives that were once lost and are now found ? When we can identify with the father in the story, we will then truly be able to fully comprehend how God feels about us. We will be able to understand just how much God loves us, how willing God is to forgive us, and how eager God is to have us back into a right relationship with God.

And maybe, just maybe when we connect with those feelings, we will be able to come into a new life ourselves. We will be able to put our past behind us. We will be able to go on to live the new life that God has called us to live.

This is a story of the radical grace of God that is available for each and every one of us. A grace that can be scandalous when we stop to think about it, scandalous because it is so undeserved. But just the same, it is a grace that is freely offered to all.

Like the shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep in search of the one that was lost, and like the woman who still searches for the one lost coin, even though she still has nine, God searches for every lost human being. God will not rest until all are safely gathered in.

Let us return to the source of life. Let us who were once lost be found. Let us who were once dead, come back to life. Let us return home knowing that we will be welcomed with open arms by a God that offers such a scandalous grace that we can scarce believe. AMEN!