Sun. Mar. 25, 2012 (Joseph Dutko)

Joseph Dutko dealt with Jesus’ story about the prodigal son, pointing out that the story is really about the father and should be called “The Searching Father.” This story needs to be seen in the context of three stories: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. The son demands his inheritance (even though his father had not died) and squanders it, bringing shame on the father and the family. The son does not return home repentant, rather he develops a self-serving plan to earn his way back into the family. The father sees his son from afar and runs to him – a culturally humiliating act. The father embraces his son without hearing the son’s speech; he treats his son as if he never wronged the father. Faith is accepting God’s acceptance of us; our worth comes from being loved by God. Sometimes we need to stop striving, to do nothing - just rest in God’s love for us. (HN)

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