The Prodigal Welcomed

Reflection

A son demands his inheritance early — essentially wishing his father dead — squanders it all, and ends up feeding pigs, longing to eat their food. He rehearses a speech of repentance and trudges home, hoping only to be taken on as a hired servant. He expects, at best, a cool and conditional welcome. Then comes one of the most moving sentences in all of Scripture. "While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." Look at the details. The father saw him "while he was still a long way off" — which means the father had been watching the road, day after day, hoping. He "ran" — something dignified elders in that culture simply did not do. He embraced and kissed his son before a single word of the prepared speech could be spoken. This is Jesus' portrait of the heart of God. God is not a reluctant forgiver, grudgingly accepting us after we have grovelled enough. He is a Father scanning the horizon, ready to run, flinging dignity aside to reach his returning child. The welcome comes before the explanation. The embrace comes before the apology is even finished. Whatever road you have wandered down, however far off you feel, this is the God you are coming home to. You do not have to earn your way back into his affection. You only have to turn toward home — and you will find him already running to meet you.