Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:…(1 John 3:1).
God desires to manifest his love for us in such a tangible way that even the youngest child could comprehend it. God’s love for us is not based on our actions or our identity, but rather on His own nature and our connection to Him. The story of the prodigal son highlights the nature of the love of God. His love is not contingent on our faultless perfection, but on His inherent nature and the promise He has made.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of God’s love, it is important for us to reflect upon the qualities and actions of the father in the story of the prodigal son. The father bravely decided to offer his younger son his share of inheritance even though it was rather untimely. Although the father may have had reasons to think differently, yet he made no attempt to prevent the younger son nor show any sign of hesitation. On the contrary, he wholeheartedly supported his son’s freedom to make choices. Like the father in this story, God, though Almighty, will never violate the will of the least of his children. The writer of the book of Job drove this point home when he wrote, “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one…” (Job 36:5).
This is one aspect in which God is clearly different from mere mortals. How many of us mortals, given the chance, will in reality acknowledge and respect the freedom of others to act in ways that may go against our own values and interests? Many of us are reluctant and in some cases even afraid of allowing others exercise their freedom. This is not the case our Father who freely gives us liberty to choose as we desire, the consequences notwithstanding.
We can see clearly the image of God in this father. In a manner similar to what God would do, he warmly embraced his erring but remorseful son who returned home. This is in sharp contrast with the attitude of the older son who wasted no time in voicing his disapproval over the father’s generous and forgiving heart. This reminds us of the Prophet Jonah who was angry with God for forgiving the sins of the people of Nineveh following their genuine repentance. Like Jonah and like many of us, the older son, held the belief that his father was excessively generous, exercising no restraint in forgiving. This incredible generosity is what gives us hope. God is incredibly generous, welcoming, and surprisingly inclusive. God accepts us, even when we are truly undeserving.
The life of Jesus provides us with a unique portrait of God and a sharp contrast to the attitude of the older brother in the story of the prodigal son. Jesus serves as a tangible representation of a God who is exceedingly generous, merciful and compassionate. He would rather give his very life so that God would forgive us, his brethren, than hold a grudge. He is aware of how messed up our pasts were and how much we had wasted the Father’s goods in ‘riotous living’, yet will he not hold us chargeable for our past. Unlike the older brother in the story, Jesus would refuse to be trapped or stuck in the past. He is persuaded about our beautiful present and an even more glorious future. This is consistent with the character of the father who believes in living in the present. He is filled with joy that his son had returned home!
What mattered most to him was that his son had returned home. The past is a closed chapter that should never be revisited; the present holds the power to shape our future. Oh, what a wonderful present!
The son came back with the miraculous words “I am sorry” ready to be spoken, but the father rushed to embrace him ever before those words were uttered. He had seen the penitent heart of his son and that was what really mattered. Doesn’t the bible teach too that the angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner repents. It is surprising that in spite of the great joy in the house, the older brother could still live within his cocoon of grudge and sorrow. Grudges would always breed a sorrowful heart and a sad face in the long run. Like the older brother, we are often so easily consumed by own concerns and blinded by self-interest that we lack the ability to see the joy in our father’s heart and join him in celebrating our brother’s homecoming. There is a huge danger in maintaining such a wrong attitude.
Self-interest often hinders progress. Nothing else has the power to blind us to what is good quite like self-interest.
Are you starting to perceive a dimension of the pattern of Love in the Gospels just like me? God is exceedingly generous. Despite the fact that the son had committed ‘unpardonable’ sins and strayed far from his father’s desires, he was never disconnected from the love of his father. The father’s love is so immense that He not only forgives, but also throws a celebration in honor of any son who truly returns home. The acceptance of the father demonstrates the immense power of God’s love, while the celebration serves as a beautiful display of His abundant grace.
May we all experience the profound and transformative love of God, a love that remains steadfast and unwavering in spite of our mess. May this love bring untold blessings into our lives. May the Lord bless us with a deep understanding, and open our eyes to perceive His love in every aspect of our lives. May He graciously and gently soften our hearts so that we may wholeheartedly embrace His love in full.
