Luke 15:11-32 - The Humility of God!

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, '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.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" 

A Father always Loves his Son
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Look at the Humility of the father! His one son disrespects him by asking for his inheritance early, basically saying, I want nothing to do with this family anymore and he leaves. The other son disrespects his father by refusing to come into the house. In both cases, the father is the one who joyfully receives. He runs out to greet his now humble son and leaves the party to entreat his discontent son.  It is the place of the child to serve the father but the father is the one who makes all the moves of service.

Surely the son who spent his inheritance and is yet restored is now the happiest of men.  He has the love of his father which he knows he doesn't deserve. Look at the sadness of the son who stayed, yet his heart is from from his father. For surely he would have rejoiced with his father had his heart not been so hard.  Yet the father wants to receive them both! And our Father in Heaven receives us, whether we wandered far away from Him or stayed near Him all our lives.  He calls us daily to receive us with joy.

Lord, make me to have the heart of the returned son. He knows he is nothing and that the Father is all Love. Thank you, for your humility, O Christ God, by taking on flesh you showed us how You are like the father in the story and humbly receive those who return to You. Thank You, O Heavenly Father, for the Love You display daily and thank You, O Holy Spirit, for leading us towards the Kingdom of God at every turn of our life.  Amen.