Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me

And so begins this week’s Gospel parable - ‘The Prodigal Son’ Luke 15: 1-32 ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’

Reading this passage brought back memories of the arrogance I displayed in my youth, when I thought I had all the answers to life. There is a sort of impetuousness of the younger son that I can identify with. Not with the wealth because my eartly father had no such money to share but with talents and gifts.

I reflect on unspoken words of - I would do what I like with who I am. In my youthful confidence, I believed that my talents and gifts were mine alone to control, to use as I pleased, without regard for the wisdom of those who had guided me. Much like the younger son, I set out on my own path, eager to carve my own way, certain that I knew best.

For me, it was arrogance, but for many of the sinners and tax collectors that Jesus was accused of eating with, it could also have been the weight of hardship, desperation, or choices made out of necessity rather than defiance. Some may have been driven by survival, others by brokenness, and still others by a longing for something more—yet all found themselves distant from the Father's love.

My friend, probably you too have found yourself embarking, at times, on a journey away from the Father’s estate. It could have been in the past or present, choice or circumstance - a time of rebellion, a season of doubt, or simply the slow drift that happens when life's burdens take precedence over faith.

Perhaps it was the pursuit of success, the distractions of the world, or wounds that made trusting God difficult. Whatever the reason, the result is often the same—a sense of distance, an ache for something more, a longing to return but not knowing how.

I believe this week’s Gospel speaks to us in these times of searching. We are reminded that we, at times, have been the younger son. Yet the beauty of this parable is its reminder that no journey away from the Father is ever too far.

So if you find yourself on such a path—whether wandering in the wilderness or standing at the threshold, unsure of how to return—know this: the Father is already watching, waiting, longing to welcome you home.

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Please encourage them to journey with us this week as we unpack this wonderful parable of homecoming.

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