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THE PRODIGAL SON
Then Jesus
said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them
said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property
that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between
them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and
traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his
property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a
severe famine took place … and he began to be in need. … When he
came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands
have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I
will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father,
I have sinned against heaven and before you … treat me like one
of your hired hands.” ’ 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.…
Now his elder
son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house,
he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and
asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and
your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him
back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in.
His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered
his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working
like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command;
yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might
celebrate with my friends.’ … Then the father said to him, ‘Son,
you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we
had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was
dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”
Today we have the opportunity to have the
sign of the cross marked on our foreheads with ashes as we hear
these words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall
return.” We are reminded of our mortality. We are reminded that
we are lost and have gone astray.
As we read this familiar parable, we often
place ourselves in the story. Which character are you? Do you
feel like the son who has wandered far away, blowing your
inheritance? Or the son who has grown bitter, staying close and
doing your duty but not being rewarded for it?
We may relate to a different son at
different times in our lives. But we rejoice in the unwavering,
unconditional love of the father. The father comes out to meet
both sons, with arms open, inviting them back into a
relationship with him. Whether he is running out to greet the
lost son on the road or going out to plead with the older son to
join the party, the father’s arms and heart are wide open.
We, too, experience moments when we are
lost. Yet God seeks us out. God comes to us with open arms,
ready to welcome us back into a relationship, no matter what has
pulled us away.
Gracious God, thank you for your
unwavering, unconditional love. As we move into this season of
Lent, draw us out of our lost places and back into your loving
embrace. Amen
The Rev. Kristin Neitzel,
Associate Pastor
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