Saturday 22 March 2014
- Bible Book:
- Luke
“But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.” (v. 20)
Background
The story of the prodigal son follows the other two stories ofloss, the lost sheep (
The story of the lost sheep surely qualifies our mission asChurch and as individuals to seek to find those whom we do not yetknow and show them compassion. For it is those who do not yet knowof abiding love from a God who is longing for us all to be broughtwithin God's fold, that is important. God in Christ did not come tobe amongst those already committed and to do their work for them,but to release those in the fold to go out in search of the lost,the broken, the widowed and the fatherless. This is even morepowerfully demonstrated for us with the story of the prodigal son.The father weeping and tormented by the loss of his son cannot holdhimself back when he sees him returning and throws the biggestparty ever to celebrate.
Matthew Fox in his book, Original Blessings, writes that "Jesus,like all the other prophets, taught people to … be instruments ofnew creation". Fox encourages his readers to find all things newbecause we have become so wrapped up with what is wrong withourselves and inside our churches, rather than seeing our ownpotential.
Our faithful God, whom we believe to see all and know all, longsonly for us and the entire world to be with God. These stories helpus to see how constant and never-ceasing is God's love for us. Withheartfelt longing they call us all to know that love for ourselves,and to draw close to God so that we may live as God intends inGod's world.
To Ponder
- Look back over your sacred story and notice the moments whenyou have 'returned home' and been touched by the love of God again.Give thanks for it.
- What do you think God's faithfulness has got to say to youabout remaining within the fold of your local church or venturingout from it?
- How could you help your church community look outside andbeyond itself?