So famished was he, that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but no one offered him anything.
Finally coming to his senses, he said, (…) I will get up and go back to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against God, and before you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of your hired servants.’
With that thought in mind, he set off for his father’s house.
He was still a long way off, when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him,
threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But the father turned to his servants: ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Bring out the finest robe and put it on him!
Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! Take the fattened calf and kill it! We shall celebrate and have a feast,
for this son of mine was dead, and has come back to life; he was lost, and is found!’ And the celebration began.
Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. (…) He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about.
The servant answered, ‘Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he has ordered this celebration,
and killed the fattened calf.’
The elder son became angry, and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. (…)
The father said, ‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead,
and has come back to life; he was lost, and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.’”

REFLECTION:
Our God is merciful and forgiving. This is what the pa­rable of the prodigal son reveals to us.
For Jesus, the Father is like the prodigal son’s father who willingly accepts and restores his son’s dignity after committing so many mistakes.
This is the same God who continually invites and longs for our return. Many of us have buried ourselves in guilt and shame of our sins
that we forget to look back to our very identity as God’s beloved. This is the reason why people find it difficult to free themselves from their slavery to sin.
In Jesus’ life, the sinners are also his friends. Those who are considered offenders of the law and Yahweh’s enemies are welcome in the company of Jesus.
Let us not be like the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who instead of bridging and giving chances to sinners build walls and separation.
They are like the elder son who felt envious because of the mercy the father has with his brother. Let us free ourselves from being judgmental
towards our brothers and sisters; instead we draw ourselves closer to the mercy God has shown to all of us.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020