Today the Pharisees continue their criticism of Jesus, and as always, Jesus is able to know what is in their hearts and minds. 
However, Jesus decides to respond to their unspoken criticism in a round-about way. As he often does, Jesus tells them a parable. Today’s parable is the familiar Prodigal Son parable. We know that the father in the story has 2 sons. The youngest son comes and asks his father for his inheritance. The father agreed to his request and he divided all that he had and gave his 2nd son his fair share. This son immediately took his inheritance and left. He had wanderlust and wanted to see the wonders of the world. However, in the process of his wanderings, he spent the whole of his inheritance.
On the other hand, the eldest son is extremely responsible. He is very obedient to his father and he manages the estate. 
Finally, the younger son came to his senses. He decided to return home. Note: it was hunger and poverty that brought him to his senses.   However, he also realized that he would have to ask his father for forgiveness. 
Imagine that you are the youngest son who is returning home. What thoughts are going through your mind? Are you planning what you will say to your father? How high is your anxiety level? What is your greatest fear? And yet, what do you have to lose? Your life is in shambles and if needed, you will accept whatever is given to you, no matter how menial it might be. Your pride has to be left behind.
As we well know, the father had been looking for his son since the day his son had left him. Day after day the father waited.
Finally the day arrives when the father sees someone coming down the road and realizes, it was his youngest son! Luke writes: the father was filled with compassion (and perhaps great joy and happiness). As soon as he saw his son, he ran to him and embraced him. Immediately, the prodigal son knew that he truly was forgiven and he realized how deeply his father loved him.
At times in our lives, we also have left the home of our God. We have wandered away and perhaps we also have squandered what little we had. How long did we keep our distance from God? Were we afraid that God would never forgive us? Perhaps we thought we did not deserve to be forgiven. And yet, God is always on the lookout for us, yearning for us, waiting for us to return home. God will never stop loving us!
God patiently will look for us and wait for us until we return home! Then the celebration for us begins!

​