While He Was Yet a Great Way Off

The Story

Jesus told a story about a man with two sons. The younger one said, “Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.” In other words, give me my inheritance now. It was like saying he wished his father were already dead.

The father divided his property, and a few days later the young man packed up everything and left for a far country. There he wasted it all on reckless living.

Then a famine hit. With nothing left, he took a job feeding pigs, the lowest job imaginable for a Jewish young man. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pigs’ food.

Finally, “he came to himself.” Even my father’s hired servants have bread to spare, he thought, and I’m starving. He rehearsed a speech: “Father, I have sinned… I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him. The father ran, an older man running down the road, and threw his arms around his son and kissed him.

The son started his speech. The father didn’t even let him finish. “Bring forth the best robe… put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet… let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

Reflection