Rejection of a home

Jesus explained spiritual truths by using ordinary life stories called parables. “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables.” (Matthew 13:34). The word “parable” “is ultimately derived from the Greek word parabole that means ‘putting things side by side’. There are thirtyone unique parables, only found in the first three gospels (the synoptic gospels). They reveal just enough truth to raise intense curiosity, promising more for interested listners and seekers. They are not to be taken as doctrines or prophecies, rather must be studied in context.

The parble of the 'prodigal son' is one of the most well known among them. It is about a sweet home where a kind and wealthy father lives with his two sons. The younger son claimed his inheritance from his father and ran off to a far away place. The older one lived with his father dissaisfied and dissilusioned. One was lost away from home while the other was lost in the home. The younger son returned after squandering his inheritance, but received acceptance from the father with restoration of his full inheritance.

More often, we find ourselves rejecting the home for temporary gratification. We want to do what pleases ourselves and wish God wasn't around. The first people Adam and Eve rejected God and was sent out of garden of Eden. We cannot live in the garden in hiding and wishing God was not around. When a person or society keeps God away, life is not human any more. People and societies that rejected God have historically seen moral and social decay.

Even though the older son did not run away, he was also lost because he rejected the blessing of the celebration serving his self centered hatred. We don’t have to run away to do sin and be lost. We can be part of the best family or church and still can find ourselves lost. The older brother probably thought and hoped that his brother would never return. Sometimes, we want to hold on to what we have and feel glad that we don't have to see the poor and the needy. We are joyfully comfortable at home serving our self gratification. Rejecting the joy of the home is a personal choice, at home or away from home.

The parable reminds us that God's family is not complete with even one soul missing. Having another son at home does not take away the pain of losing one. Jesus said two parables just before this one about a shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to seek after the one that was lost, and a woman who searched for one coin even though she had nine coins with her. A grandmother said after the death of her grand child, “it is not the same any more. It is like you have a pearl necklace with one pearl missing.” Nobody would wear a necklace with a missing pearl. Or nobody can play a piano with a single key missing. God sent His Son Jesus to redeem that was lost so that God's family would be complete. Jesus said, "the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).

Blessings

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