“But while he was 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.” Luke 15:11
Recently a man I considered a friend for the last ten years died of a heart attack. After hearing of his estrangement from his family of origin I was drawn to the story of the Prodigal Sons. One who lived close and the other who lived far but both were seperated from the heart of their father. This story told by Jesus has illustrated the movements of my own heart. (See or listen to Luke 15:11-31) Oh the longing for reunion. Rembrandt illustrated it powerful in his painting: the Return of the Prodigal Son. The saddest day is when no party has a heart for the other. The happiest day is the day of reunion. How often do we miss the longings of our Heavenly Father? How often do we medicate the longings of our soul for God with something or someone else? Henri Nouwen observed that we are like the younger brother and we are like the older brother in our relationships with people and with our relationship with God. However as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called by Him to become like the Father in our relationships with people. And that in our relationship with God we are called to the humility, responsivness, and knowledge of being loved that the younger son illustrates. Again a story with repentance as the major theme.
Heavenly Father, turn my heart to you. Have mercy on me. Lead me in the path of life that my life may display the greatness of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
