My Reflections: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32)
The prodigal son spent years blessed by familial privilege only to leave in betrayal. Instantly, he became an exiled child from the wrong side of the tracks in his locale. He put himself in a strange environment as he broadened his horizons. He walked in vain through the dark streets and sought stability and success. He could feel comfortable searching for a life’s path; he thought neither of hitting rock bottom nor falling on his face. All he was thinking about was following his desires and goals and taking his father’s love for granted. He used recklessness and shortcuts to grease the way to his ambitions. Then his money ran out, and so did his aspirations.
The conclusion now seems less optimistic than anticipated. Since leaving home, the son has witnessed his influence wane as he realized that not everything he touched produced gold. Of course, the son was primarily to blame for what had occurred. He was forced to watch from the sidelines as others partook in his father’s riches. He started to feel the pain he had experienced at the hands of others as he saw his once-viable personal and family reputation crumble. Until his separation, his path had been one of safety and achievement. His curbed ambition, nevertheless, served as a stinging reminder of what could have been. If only his kind father had the compassion to recognize him in this miserable existence. He had a daily discussion with himself as a damaged soul. But the world reminded him he didn’t belong anywhere besides his father’s kindness. He didn’t belong anywhere.
The son had little trust that he would ever see his father’s face, much less get his complete forgiveness. He may have been the object of scorn that amounted to a personal curse for days, weeks, or even years.
His choice increased the family’s loss of trust and affection. He eventually encountered a spiritual flaw and could not overcome the obstacles he faced outside the family. He became a dangerous liability. A life filled with errors destroyed any promise he once had. The son must, nevertheless, look for other approaches to overcome his shortcomings. He not only knew that he had lost everything, but in the loneliness and depth of his anguish, he must have cultivated a new heart, ready to fall on his father’s knees. At least he did not regret living a more fulfilling life. The final recourse must be his desperate attempt to return to his father. The most remarkable thing was his readiness to ask for pardon and repentance.
The son was not concerned about the consequences or the possibility of rejection from his family. He just cared about maintaining his selfish choices. After evading accountability for a long time, he finally convinced himself that he would never have to feel shame. Not wanting to return to that dark experience of failure and rejection, he must have learned to treasure the meaning of familial love amid despair. He had given little value to his family and inheritance. He kept his obedience compass pointed since familial loyalty meant more to him than anything else. He might not view his family in such a way that it would broaden his outlook on other people. From now on, seeing the world differently, he would rededicate his life to his father and family after a period of regression because he knew no other means to restore his history of mischief. He discovered that there was something more than an enduring side to familial love. He had to tackle one unwavering section of his past, a part of his life that would follow him everywhere he went. He knew that taking his father for granted was the worst decision that he had made in his entire life. Taking life for granted indicates an entitled and proud mindset. Thus, the depth of his misery was central to his rise as a devout and restored child.
The son didn’t want to go through all those hard times for nothing, so serving and honoring his father became his main goal in life. If guilt over past wrongdoings had hindered him, he would not have returned to his family. He will never let anything get in the way of his familial heritage. He must have reckoned that his reputation would recover much of its luster because of the father’s love. Thanks to his father, his life’s turmoil had subsided for good.
We learn from this story that we do not have to settle for a life that is dishonorable to God just because our present realities didn’t precisely materialize the way we planned them. Dejection, poor decisions, and abandoned dreams would negatively impact the son’s life. We also learn more from our failures than from our successes. We often do not forget the scars of our miseries but rather remember them well. If we make it to the other side of the island, we might be able to influence others facing similar hardships. Perhaps the prodigal son will regret leaving the family behind, but on his return, he must know that his experience will teach him a lesson. The father’s unchanging love and dedication manifest in the son’s presence. Everything will change in a moment.
The person who demanded from his father his share of the inheritance admitted that he had sinned “against heaven and his father” and no longer deserved to be called his father’s son. He has been making up for the lost time by returning to his father, who welcomed him with an open heart. With the tears and disappointments of the past behind him, the father might have said to his returning son: “Your betrayal wouldn’t affect the unconditional love I always have for you.” This patriarch conjures the image of a forgiving parent, symbolizing the heavenly father who delights in the repentant heart and meek soul. The graciousness of the father surpasses the expectations of the son. It shows how the family missed their progeny. Even though the critics were kind, they often had to deal with the haunting memories, which gave them a bad feeling about their son and made them doubt the father’s mercy. Beyond the delight and cheer, friends, let alone foes, might have nurtured genuine questions and doubts. Many would not be willing to quickly forget the son’s misdeeds that had embarrassed many people.
While the son may not have anyone’s faith in his homecoming, nothing was more comfortable than knowing that the father was on his side to reset the past’s horrors for good and usher in a new era of intimacy and trust. After making amends, he would avoid taking any chances with his life and instead try to elevate his status within his father’s household. With time, he would realize that his despair was the goal of the incident and that the Lord intended it for his good. For the Scripture says,
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).
Similarly, the Lord Jesus Christ said:
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than the ninety-nine that did not wander off” (Matt. 18:12–13).
When someone has already been hurt by rejection and doubt, distress does a lot of damage to their spirit and behavior. In the same way, sadness adds to the darkness of someone who has lost something, but the Lord’s selfless love will bring about significant changes for the better. Still, Christians must evaluate the effect of their decisions’ direct link to failure.
