Inexplicable Forgiveness: The Return of the Prodigal Son

“You reap what you sow.” A person who did good things would be blessed while a person who did evil things would be punished. This is the common sense. However, the words of the Lord in the Gospel look eccentric as the parable of the prodigal and his brother shows.(Luke 15:11-32)

A younger son squandered his father’s properties in dissolute living, and returned to his father. As he confessed, he prominently had ungratefully sinned against heaven and before his father, and he might be no longer worthy to be called a son.(Luke 15:18-19) He felt guilty, frustrated, wretched, and worthless than pigs. He could never be embraced again as he imagined how his father would be rageful about what he had sinned.

However, his father’s response completely went against his expectation. His father ran and put his arms around him and kissed him, and said, “my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” His father celebrated his return with music and dancing.(Luke 15:20-24)

There is no reasonable way to explain what his father did for his prodigal son. It is just “unconditional forgiveness” which is inexplicable with common senses. The prodigal son was not simply accepted but also embraced, kissed, and welcomed with a great party. His father already forgave his son before his return, and had been eager to be reconciled with him. 

God unconditionally forgave all our sins. But, we would still remain miserable had it not been for our repentance before God. By returning to God, we could receive the Holy Spirit as his gift, and be reborn as a new being with eternal life.

This parable would also be a good lesson to learn how to treat someone who hurt ourselves. As God unconditionally forgave my sins, he also unconditionally forgave their sins. Therefore, what I must do for them is not just to accept but also to embrace, kiss, and welcome them with my whole heart, as God did for me.

Almighty God, who revealed your unconditional forgiveness and love through the parable of the prodigal son, grant us that we may forgive our enemies unconditionally, and further embrace, kiss, and welcome them, and reconcile with them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.