by
David Kupelian
In the biblical story of the prodigal son, a headstrong and foolish young man leaves his father’s home for “a far country” where he soon squanders his entire inheritance on “harlots” and other unspecified “riotous living.”
But that’s not the end of the story.
With the father’s money gone, the son’s good times quickly turn bad, especially when “a mighty famine” arises in the land. What seemed at first to have been a life of newfound freedom and personal gratification has become one of tribulation and suffering. Yet because of that suffering, he at last comes to his senses. Starving and remorseful, yet too ashamed to return home as a son, he determines instead to journey back and offer himself to his father as just another hired servant. That way, at least, he won’t starve.
It’s easy to imagine this young man’s shame causing him to want to turn away as he approached his father’s house, the pain becoming greater as he got ever closer.
“But,” Jesus tells us, “when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
In the biblical story of the prodigal son, a headstrong and foolish young man leaves his father’s home for “a far country” where he soon squanders his entire inheritance on “harlots” and other unspecified “riotous living.”
But that’s not the end of the story.
With the father’s money gone, the son’s good times quickly turn bad, especially when “a mighty famine” arises in the land. What seemed at first to have been a life of newfound freedom and personal gratification has become one of tribulation and suffering. Yet because of that suffering, he at last comes to his senses. Starving and remorseful, yet too ashamed to return home as a son, he determines instead to journey back and offer himself to his father as just another hired servant. That way, at least, he won’t starve.
It’s easy to imagine this young man’s shame causing him to want to turn away as he approached his father’s house, the pain becoming greater as he got ever closer.
“But,” Jesus tells us, “when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. (Luke 15: 20-24) Read More:
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