The way of love

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.”                                    Luke 15.11

The parable of the Prodigal Son says it all. Both sons were disobedient to the father. They followed their own will and not his. In actions totally contrary to all Ancient Middle East practices, the father demonstrated his remarkable love for both his sons, by going out to meet them.

He met the younger son and welcomed him home in princely manner. He went out to meet the older son and pleaded with him to enter into the celebrations. Both sons dishonoured their father. Both received the father’s love and not his punishment.

By this wonderful story Jesus shows us the way of our Heavenly Father. He is there for us. As was the fictional father with his son, so our real Father is on constant lookout for our return to Him. He comes to meet us. Indeed, He rushes to us to welcome us back into our wonderful family. When we are disobedient, as the older son was, He comes to us to reason and restore. His way is as foreign to worldly ways as were the actions of the parable father against the customs and practices of the Middle East.

This is the way of love. It is often confounding to the world. It may be threatening to many who are enmeshed in worldliness. But it is the Father’s way. He calls us to love without limit, as He loves. He wants us to live in an atmosphere and environ of love. If we are genuine in our response, we will embrace His way of love, and live it to the full.

Holy Father,

I want to live the way of love. I embrace it with my feebleness and limitedness. Take me and lead me on. May I know the prodigal nature of the Father’s love. May I share it, spread it, and enjoy it, in Jesus’ name I ask.                           Amen.

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