Tax collectors and sinners were drawn to Jesus because, as the Pharisees observed, Jesus welcomed sinners and ate with them. (Luke 15:1-2)
Those opening verses of Luke 15 set the stage for the three parables that follow, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Sons (more commonly referred to as Parable of the Prodigal Son).
That third parable is perhaps the most well known of Jesus' stories, as well as one of the most elaborate.
It tells the story of a father with two sons, each of whom demonstrates disrespect for the father.
The younger son demands to be given his portion of the inheritance early, since dad isn't dying soon enough for his liking.
The older son describes his relationship to his old man as a form of underappreciated slavery rather than genuine sonship.
This parable, however, is also the story of a father's love for his two undeserving children.
While this love is evident throughout the story, perhaps the most dramatic display of that love comes when the younger son returns home.
Having wasted his inheritance in what is described as "wild living," the son comes to his senses and realizes how good he had it back home.
In fact, he realizes that his father's hired men have it better than he currently did, since his only employment was slopping the hogs on someone's farm, an unimaginable task for a good Jewish boy.
So, after rehearsing what he will say to his father, the young man heads home.
Meanwhile, his father, who has no idea whether his son is dead or alive, waits daily for his son's return.
Then there comes the fateful day when he sees his son in the distance.
Immediately he runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him, before the son can utter one word of his rehearsed lines.
This is the point that I missed for years. The father welcomes his son before he even knows why his son is there.
Maybe the son was coming back for more money.
Maybe the son was going to say, "Dad, I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by to tell you that leaving here was the best thing I ever did and I'm never coming back again."
The point is, the father doesn't know what the son will say, and he doesn't care!
All the father knows is that he loves his son. That's all that matters to him. He loves his son, without question and without condition.
Whatever has brought his son back to him, for however brief a time it might be, the father has only one goal, to let his son know that he loves him.
What happens after that is beyond the father's control. Either his love for his son will win the day or it won't.
Come what may, he won't force his son to stay.
That's the purity of the father's love. It doesn't demand explanations or apologies. It simply offers itself freely to be either received or rejected.
That's God the Father's love for each of us.
He wants His love to win our hearts, but allows us to refuse it, because divine love doesn't coerce.
Rather, it is constant. This love doesn't change. This love doesn't end.
Be assured that, however far away from the Father your wanderings may take you, the Father's love is always there for you.
He is always waiting for you.
He will always welcome you.
Without questions. Without conditions.
With only love.
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