‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ (Lk 15:17-19)
This is a classic text about a person’s repentance. Sometimes, this can only be achieved through the hardships that God allows in one’s life. In German, we have the saying: ‘Hardship teaches us to pray’. In this case, it is the realisation of the prodigal son, who, as we know, demanded his inheritance from his father and then squandered it recklessly. The consequences were plain to see. However, he first had to experience them physically.
His repentance was sincere! He did not make excuses, nor did he blame anyone else for his misfortune. He was also aware that he had first sinned against God, and then against his father. Therefore, he was ready to accept everything and knew that he no longer deserved to live in the house as a son. This repentance melted him from within, dissolving the hardness and confusion of his heart.
Spiritually speaking, this is a wonderful state, for how often are we humans still easily clouded by pride, and not infrequently do we not even notice it? But when we are in such a state, like the prodigal son, it is easy for our heavenly Father to show us His goodness, at least for this phase of life. Our hearts are open and every gesture of God’s love, even the slightest one, falls upon a repentant heart and triggers a blaze of gratitude. Thus, we can understand that, in His wisdom, God allows us to experience the pain of straying from the path.
It is better to be a repentant sinner than a proud, self-righteous person!
Such is our Father!
NOTE: The video on the Parable of the Prodigal Son will be posted soon.