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 ) ...