Parable of Prodigal Son
This is the gospel dated 09-03-2013. I could say, One of the best masses I attended ever. I have been coming across this story since my childhood, but today is the day I understood the meaning of the story well. I should say a big thanks to Rev father anon, Perungudi, Chennai. Parable of the prodigal son is the longest parable in the gospels. What is the main point or focus of the story?
The Parable of the Lost Son :
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 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.’
Inference :
- " Father, give me my share of the estate.". The words, 'Give me' shows the selfish of the son. We are also committing the same.We ask for the God's presents, but not the God's Presence.The fact that the younger brother instigated the early division of the family estate showed a rebellious and proud disregard for his father's authority. Whenever we sin against him, we are disgracing the kingdom of Heaven.
- "younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth"- Even at times We go far from the God's presence and till we get any trouble we will not turn back. A wasted hour or wasted day or wasted life is a tragedy like how the young son wasted his wealth.We were created to serve and worship God. When we choose to ignore this, we are going far away from his purpose.
- Famine : "After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine". This is what happens when we give our whole life over to serving ourselves and going away from him . We will end up missing out on so much. We lose the blessing of our Heavenly Father. We waste our lives, and we become trapped and enslaved to our own sin.
- Poverty : "to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything." it reveals that he had fallen as low as he could possibly go. This son represents a person living in rebellion to God. Sometimes we have to hit rock-bottom before we come to our senses and recognize our sin.
- Spiritual Awakening : "he came to his senses" It is the same realization we all should come to when our hearts cry out "God, I’m guilty. Please forgive me”.
- Repentance - "I will set out and go back to my father and say to him" He does three things: "accept," "arise" and "say." These words show us his repentance. Another way of looking at repentance is that it is a change of direction. It is when we have a change of mind and a change of heart about sin. Then that change in our heart produces a change in our actions.
- "make me like one of your hired servants". "Make me." Those are beautiful words! They are words that show that his cry has changed from "give me" to "make me." He is showing his desire to come under the authority of his father and leave self behind. Jesus wants us to look at our own hearts and ask, “Am I saying, ‘give me’ to God, or is my response ‘make me?"
- "God is a loving Father". He had been watching for him all this time. God waits and watches for us while we are separated from Him. Remember it is only our sins that keeps us from Him. When we come to Him in true repentance, He sees us and has compassion on us, and He runs to us with hugs and kisses. What great love! No matter what our sin has been, when we truly repent, God our Father receives us this loving way. He will completely forgive us and remember our sins no more.
- "Bring the best robe, Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate." He offers us everything in his kingdom, restoring full relationship with joyful celebration. He doesn't even dwell on our past The robe signified that he was the guest of honor at the banquet. The ring was given as a symbol of his authority,
- " For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." What priceless words for a father to say to a child! He is going to celebrate because this is his son, restored to him! Our Heavenly Father loves us very much and wants us to come to Him no matter what we may have done.
- The son felt the father was unfair, totally unjust, and even foolish. "How could you do this to me?!" Not once did the elder brother show the slightest hint of joy for his brother returning. He was irate, nearly in a rage about this welcome home party. Yes, legalism hates grace, because grace forgives on the basis of love and not performance.Can you accept it? God is love. He is the lost sheep .we see that the elder son is clearly a picture of the pharisees. In their self-righteousness, they have forgotten to rejoice when a sinner returns to God. Bitterness and resentment keeps the older son from forgiving his younger brother. It blinds him to the treasure he freely enjoys through constant relationship with the father.
Question of Reflection :
In this parable Jesus gives a vivid picture of God and what God is like. God is truly kinder than us. He does not lose hope or give up when we stray. He rejoices in finding the lost and in welcoming them home. Do you know the joy of repentance and the restoration of relationship as a son or daughter of your heavenly Father?Who are you in this story? Are you a prodigal, a pharisee or a servant? Are you the rebellious son, lost and far from God? Are you the self-righteous pharisee, no longer capable of rejoicing when a sinner returns to God? Maybe you've hit rock-bottom, come to your senses and decided to run to God's open arms of compassion and mercy? Or are you one of the servants in the household, rejoicing with the father when a lost son finds his way home? Decide your answer, who you are? 
"Lord Jesus, may I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."
Have Peace in your life
Joachin Joseph
Very nicely written Joachin.....do well in life bro
ReplyDeleteThanks Sushrut. Wish you the same .
Delete