July 2

The Prodigal Father

            So he set off and went to his father. But while he 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 15:20-24

             “Prodigal” does not mean lost.  “Prodigal” means extravagant, wasteful, or reckless.  While people like to refer to this story as the Prodigal Son, I think that the character who is the most reckless…the most wasteful…the most extravagant…is the Father.  His younger son insulted Him to His face, demanding a fortune that was not his to have. Then the son left to pursue a life of gluttony and pleasure and hedonism, using what he had not earned to party and play.  Predictably the money ran out, the younger son’s friends went away and he was left with nothing until he remembers his family.  He returns, hoping that his father will be merciful and at least allow him to be a servant.  It would be more than he deserves after the way that he treated his father.

            While the son is a long way off, the Father sees him.  Which means that He was looking for him.  Which means that He had been scanning the horizon for his son, hoping that today was the day that his boy would come back home.  The Father hikes up his robes, abandoning dignity, and runs out to the shell of His son that is returning.  The young man is skinny, filthy from living with pigs, covered in rags and sores.  Yet the Father still recognizes him as His own. 

            The son had prepared a speech, but the Father has no time for empty words.  He hugs His son and kisses His son, filled with joy and relief.   He calls the servants and puts together a party for His son’s return.  He gets sandals and a robe, demonstrating to all that His son is restored to the family, for servants did not wear sandals.  He gives His son the family ring, the equivalent of the family credit card, and delights that His son who was dead is now alive again.

            Isn’t this bad parenting?  Isn’t this Enabling at the highest level?  Is there any guarantee that the son has changed and will not do the same thing again when he has recovered?  Is there any reason that he came home other than desperation?  The son knows that he deserves to die on the streets and only His Father’s incredible mercy would allow him to become a servant.  But a fully restored member of the family?  That is…that is ludicrous…insane…extravagant and reckless.  That is the Father and His love for us.

            God’s love for us is not a small thing.  It is not a small trickle of water from the faucet.  It is a great, roaring, untamed river that sweeps everything out of its way.  It is passion and longing and the firm knowledge that life with God is Life and life with anything else is Death.  Just as in the story, we have hated our Father and left to pursue our own desires.  Just as in the story, we have been broken by life and desperate for Home.  Just as in the story, He forgives and restores us completely and the choice is ours to leave again or to stay.  He is wild with His love, extravagant and reckless for His children…a true Prodigal Father.

            If our children only know two things, it should be that God loves them and we love them.  Be lavish and extravagant in your love of your children, not just in the behind the scenes ways that we serve them without their knowledge.  Tell your children that you love them.  Show your children that you love them.  Tell others how great your kids are, not just what amazing things that you have done for them.  Praise their accomplishments and attributes and successes.  Quickly move past their failures.  Let us be lavish and extravagant and generous with our love.

            Let us be Prodigal.

A moment to reflect:

Tell your kids how great they are today.