The following matter is for those who want to know the depth:
Since sheep is an animal without knowledge, it might get lost in its way. Coin is a non living thing, it gets lost, if it has been mislaid. But why a man, who has knowledge, is getting lost in the sinful world? What causing him to be lost? The answers are lack of faith and full of pride.
The lost son from the parable has neither fear of god nor respect for his father. He asked his father for a share in the property. The father divided his property and gave him the share. The son took the share, set off for a distant country, and squandered his wealth in wild living.
We assume that he went to the distant country, thinking that his father or his relatives might interrupt his wild actions or try to stop him. As he wanted to indulge in the sinful life, he went away far from them. While he was leading the wild life, he didn’t remember his father, brother, and relatives. He was fully busy in the life, at least not visiting his father’s home one time.
Gradually, he ran out of money. After that he lost his shelter, friends, and everything. Then he hired himself to feed pigs in his master’s field. There he was starving. No one gave him anything. At that time he started filling his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating. In that terrible condition, he recollected the days he ate with his father at the dining table.
He didn’t remember his father before while he was indulging in wild living. When he had nothing to eat and nobody gave him shelter, he remembered his father and realized the sin he had committed.
He decided to go home and say to his father, “Father, I’m not worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.” Then he got up and began going to his father. On his way, he might have thought his father would abhor and resent him for wasting the money. Yet he didn’t hesitate to go to his father, as he wanted to admit his mistake before his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. This lost son must have been surprised at this and tears must have seeped from his eyes to see how much his father loved him. Then he said to his father (surly, he must have said it crying), “I’ve sinned against heaven and you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men.”
But the father said to his servants (by then he forgave his son), “Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
The father showed his abundant love on his lost son. Though his son asked him to make him like one his hired men, he didn’t do that. He got brought the best robe, ring, and sandals for his son, because he still considered him his son and restored him.
Likewise, our heavenly father shows unfailing love toward us, when we repent and turn to him, confessing our sins. He does restore us and pour blessings on us.
There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine Righteous persons who do not need to repent.
When the older son came near the house, he heard music and dancing, and as he came to know the reason, he refused to go inside the home, because he was angry with his brother, who had wasted the money.
Don’t be like him, brothers. We shouldn’t hate or look down on lost and found people, who are accepted by god. We ought to love them and praise god for doing this. It is a sin to hate lost and found people. Don’t become last by being like the older son, who refused to go in his father’s home.
Don’t run down lost and found people. Show your love to them and treat them as your brothers and sisters.
God bless all of us.
