Homecoming – Part 1

Homecoming – Part 1

May 18, 2022

Last week we brought our daughter home from her first year of college.  To say that I am in my happy place is an understatement!  I missed her so much.  And even though we’d text a lot and face time at least once a week as a family, it wasn’t the same as having her home.  To feel her presence in the house.  To hear her laughter.  To be able to say prayers in person and do our “night night” ritual that I’ve been doing with her since she was a baby.  Homecomings are amazing things.

Until they aren’t.  I know that there are situations where people don’t feel welcome at home.  Perhaps they left under bad terms; relationships were fractured beyond mending. Or there is pride or resentment that has put a deadbolt on any hopes of reconciliation or return.  The reason we leave makes a difference.  Our daughter left for a positive reason.  The prodigal son left for foolish reasons.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke 15:11-32.  Jesus told this story in response to the Pharisees’ complaint: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees’ were very self-righteous and wouldn’t even think of associating with sinners.  Jesus wanted His followers to know why he chose to associate with sinners. 

Here’s a quick recap of the Prodigal Son Parable:  A man has two sons and the younger one asks for his inheritance early and once he gets it, he leaves home and wastes his fortune on wild living.  He is obviously rebellious and proud, and he disregards his father’s authority, not to mention being selfish and immature.  We all know money doesn’t last forever and unfortunately for this son, his ran out at the same time a severe famine hit the country.  He ends up so destitute that he took a job feeding pigs and even envied the food they were eating.  Keep in mind that pigs were considered unclean, and Jews were not allowed to even touch them.  That he took a job feeding pigs reveals that he had hit rock bottom. 

But then, the parable tells us that with humility, he recognizes his foolishness and decides to return to his father and ask for forgiveness and mercy.  “I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.  Make me like one of your hired servants.’” (Luke 15:15-17)

The story continues that when the son was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and pulled up his robes and ran to him.  I love that image!  A father so full of love and excitement he runs to his son.  However, in Middle Eastern culture, running was considered shameful.  For an honorable man to pull up his robes and run down the road would be like a father running down main street in his underwear while folks are enjoying a lovely cappuccino at the café.  It just wasn’t done. 

But this father didn’t care about public opinion or social norms.  His son was coming home.  Rather than turn his son away or lecture him or punish him, the father tells his servants to bring out the best robe for his son,  put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet and to prepare a fatted calf for celebration.  These actions and gifts were to show the son that he was loved and welcomed home.  The parable ends with the father telling his older son that it was right to celebrate because his brother was lost but is now found.  The older son wasn’t too happy, but we’ll talk about him next week.

There are three key things we can learn from the parable of the Prodigal Son.

1.    Our immaturity, arrogance, and foolishness can draw us away from God.  When we think we have all the answers.  When we just want to have a little fun that doesn’t honor God.  When we want the rewards without the work.  We choose to leave God, not for reasons of growth or maturity, but for our own selfish desires.  I have had seasons in my life when I turned my back on God.  When I decided he didn’t care about me, I was hurt or angry, or I didn’t like the “rules.”  But the critical point is I left.  God never moved.

2.    Before I could return to God, I needed to repent.  The prodigal son came back to his father in humility.  “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’” (Luke 15:17-19).  The words, “but when he came to himself” are important.  When we are distant from God, we are not our true selves.  Before we can come to God, we must humble ourselves and admit when the person we are is not the person God created us to be.

3.    The Father’s love is unconditional.  Our Father loves us with a depth and breadth that we cannot fathom.  A love so fierce that He will chase us down in a relentless pursuit to bring us home.  He did more than lift up his robe and run to meet us.  He sent his son to die on a cross, so He’d never have to be separated from us.  That’s a Father’s love.  That is OUR Father’s love.

So, my sweet friend, know that the only thing that can ever separate you from the Father’s love is choice.  He’s not going anywhere.  His arms are always open.  The party is always waiting to begin.  He isn’t willing to give up on you.  He will fight for you.  The door to His heart has no locks. 

God is always home.  And He is waiting for you.  And like this mama, when you come to Him, He’s in His happy place.

In what ways do you turn away from God?  It may be something simple like not making time for Him but making time for social media.  Or maybe you have stopped believing that He cares and loves you.  Talk to God.  Come back to him in humility and receive his grace.