March 24 | Luke 15:11-23

Pastor Dave Mann
Mar 23, 2025
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

You're Home!

By Dave Mann

The Parable of the Lost Son is perhaps the best-known and most loved of all Jesus’ parables. In today’s portion of this parable, the two main characters are the father and the younger son.

The father’s grace and forbearance are evident from the start of the parable. When the younger son asks for his share of the inheritance even before the father passes away, the father consents and grants the son’s request. Such a decision may seem to be overly compliant. What the father was thinking is not revealed in the parable, but he does indeed allow the distribution of a portion of the inheritance to the younger son.

The younger son’s insensitive arrogance is also evident from the story's start. In his forward request, the son was saying, “I can’t wait for you to die, Dad, so give me my inheritance now. I want your stuff more than I want you.” Arrogance incarnate!

A few days later, the son packs up new wealth and takes off to unknown parts. Of course, as he spent his money, new “friends” appeared to enjoy it with him. But then hard times of famine fall upon the community, and the younger son finds himself alone. He has to take whatever job is available, and he hires himself out to tend pigs. Imagine the gasps of Jesus’ first Jewish audience as they heard this disgusting twist in the tale.

The tragedy of the famine was no doubt the best thing that could have happened to the younger son. It showed him the insincerity of his new “friends.” It also reminded him of his father’s love and fairness even to the hired workers. God’s love and faithfulness can take a severe form at times. God knows how to orchestrate difficult times to get our attention.

In his hardship, the son comes to his senses as he realizes that even his father’s hired help has more to eat than he has. So, he prepares his speech to show his repentance and to ask to be taken back, not as a son but rather as a hired hand. And so the son starts his trek back home.

Unbeknownst to the son, the father had not given up on him. The father was still scanning the horizon, hoping to see the son’s return. When he makes out the silhouette of his son at a distance, he does what is not expected of any dignified landowner. He runs! Wrapped in the father’s arms, the son starts his memorized text, but the father does not allow his son to finish the speech. “You’re home! You’re home! Thank God, you’re home!”

The rest of the parable tomorrow...

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace that knows no bounds. Forgive me when I value your blessings more than I value your presence. Oh, feeling your arms wrapped around me is more than I deserve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.