Reconciliation - Don't Make it Hard

11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
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31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

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Jesus tells this parable along with two others to illustrate how God the Father will welcome those formerly lost in sin, into His family and their soul into Heaven once they have confessed their sins and become followers of Jesus.  With some of the parables, Jesus offers further explanation after telling it, but not this one.  This story reminds me of the issues faced by many families with an estranged loved one.   Time passes, and often it’s lots of time, and then something happens that brings everyone together.  At that time we must make a choice - we can either accept the estranged person or continue to be upset and bitter about what they did, why they didn’t call, why they didn’t seem to care, what they said 20 years ago, their attitude, and the list goes on.  We can either leave the past in the past or reconcile and make a better future.  

In this parable, we know what happened with the lost son, but with our loved ones we may not know what’s happening in their absence.  We may see them on social media or hear from others, but we don’t have the insight we have here.  Imagine being that son who thought he had it made when he received his inheritance early!  He probably thought his money and fun would last forever!  When it didn’t, he found himself broke, poor, and working the fields of a harsh master.  Scripture tells us he was so destitute that the feed given to the pigs was better than what he had to eat - imagine that!  He reached a level of desperation that may have made him call on the name of the Lord! (v. 21)  With all of his troubles, he began to consider going back to his father.  And he didn’t return expecting even a hug.  He went back in full humility with just the hope that his father would have enough love left that he might let him work in his fields.  HIs words, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
  
Both the father and older brother had a choice - accept him or reject.  Make it simple or make it hard.  We see that they each chose differently.  The father didn’t just accept his son, he celebrated him!  The brother chose not to accept him, but to maintain the rejection he felt during the time his brother was away.  He chose to make reconciliation hard.  He didn’t even listen for an explanation, his heart had hardened towards his brother and he wanted no part of a reconciled relationship. 

Jesus tells this parable to illustrate that even those of us who wander out of relationship with him for years upon years will be welcomed back with open arms and joyful celebration if we decide that we want to return.  Those who live in the world for decades never knowing Him will be welcomed to the kingdom of Heaven if they decide to believe and trade their worldly beliefs for faith in Jesus.  When we have the opportunity to reconcile with our loved ones, we always have a choice.  We can make it hard for them, failing to consider how hard it may have been for them to come forward, and neglecting the fact that they may be trying to live a changed life; or we can treat them like Jesus taught us to welcome those who desire to be in relationship with Him, with love and open arms.  Amen.  

​Thank you for reading!  
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Kim