#theologyofwork.org Today, we begin considering one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture, that which we call the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Through this parable, Jesus paints a stunning picture of God and his relationship with us. Building on the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, Jesus depicts God as the ultimate, gracious seeker of his lost children. The Parable of the Prodigal Son begins with the shocking insolence of the younger of two sons, who demanded that his father give him his share of the inheritance even while his father was still alive. Perhaps even more shockingly, the father acquiesced to his son's demand. Given what we can surmise about the younger son, we're not surprised when his life fell apart. In fact, we might even feel that justice was served. The young man appears to get what was coming to him. It would have been hard for Jesus' audience to imagine someone falling lower than feeding pigs and wishing that he could eat their food. At this point, the younger son "came to his senses" (15:17). The original Greek reads more literally, he "came to himself." I picture this young man seeing himself as if he were a separate person. Emerging from the haze of debauchery and delusion, he saw himself with clear vision. He had made an utter mess of his life, no doubt about it. He was a dismal failure economically, morally, relationally, and religiously. Though we might never find ourselves feeding pigs and wanting to eat their slop, many of us have had a "coming to ourselves" experience. All of a sudden, we see with pristine clarity the sorry results of the choices we have made. We admit with painful honesty that our lives are far from what we had hoped they would be. This moment can lead to devastating despair. It can also lead to God. When we realize our own feebleness and failure, we are ready to turn—or to return—to God. #cometoyourself
