Sunday of the Prodigal Son

In St Luke's Gospel this Sunday we heard the parable of the prodigal son.  The youngest son would have received his inheritance when his father died, but he wanted it immediately - it was almost as if he were saying to his father, "I wish you were dead"!  Having received his entitlement, he then went away and squandered it, and was soon reduced to living no better than a pig.  But the point of the story is not the disgraceful behaviour of the son: it is the father's reaction when his son returned.  Instead of dismissing the ruined young man by saying "you have received all I had to give you: now go away", the father was overwhelmed with joy.  He didn't wait for the young man to knock at the door: he ran to meet him.  Not walked.  Ran.  Perhaps the parable would be better named "the parable of the forgiving father".

This parable teaches us about the total and unreserved forgiveness that God offers to each one of us - individually, personally and by name.   God is watching the road expectantly.  If we are truly sorry for our failings and sincerely seek to return to Him, then no matter what we have done, no matter how disgracefully we have behaved, no
matter how many times we fail, God will rush out to greet us and welcome us home.

You are a child of God.  You may lie down with the pigs, or you may sit in honour at the banqueting table.  What will you choose?