When the youngest son returned from ‘devouring his father’s wealth with prostitutes’ journey, there were no pointed fingers and no “I told you so’s”; only love. As a matter of fact, the first word from his father’s lips was quickly. So, if this man is to be a representation of God the Father (and the whole reason Jesus shares the parable with the Pharisees and scribes), then I believe His purpose in the telling is to illustrate the passionate love our God has for His children—the ones who keep all the rules, and the ones who run from them.
There are so many parts to this story that I love: the rehearsed script of the son as he prepares to deliver his repentant words (only to learn that his father wasn’t interested in his deeds of payback, just in his “want to”), the wild embrace of a dad who ran and kissed the one his heart had ached for, and the extravagance that came with the restored father-son relationship (best robe, ring, sandals, and fattened calf). But as I zeroed in on verse 32, and read the first few words---“But we had to celebrate and rejoice”—I immediately thought of the old Kenny Loggins song, “Please, Celebrate Me Home” (I guess because I saw another one of those “big but’s of the Bible”). The father was no longer standing in front of his “welcomed home” son here, but with the “always been with me and all that is mine is yours” son. This son had refused the party. This son looked at this father with judgment. This son refused to rejoice. This son was not repenting for his behavior; he was applauding it.
I don’t know who you identify with best here: the one desperate to repent, or the one whose grudge is bigger than his heart, but I love that the father speaks into both of them. And when he speaks, neither is chastised for their behavior. Instead, this father’s best defense to his ungrateful son is the same thing he had delivered to both of his boys…grace. “We had to celebrate and rejoice”, because that’s what grace looks like. It doesn’t come with a list of things to fix before forgiveness is issued; it comes with a party. And in my New Living Sagely translation, I think the youngest son knew his father well enough to know that he would receive it, as he hummed that Kenny Loggins song all the way up the path that led to his father’s house. And I also believe that his father wasn’t just on the front porch waiting to see the first glimpse of his son (as I’ve heard most of my life in the re-telling of this story); I think his dad was blowing up balloons and hanging up streamers in his anticipation for the feast (I think this because I know my Father is a ‘celebrate me home’ kind of Dad).
So whether you’re the humble sinner or the proud rule keeper, turn your focus today on the words of an extravagant Father who speaks into both: “Quickly, bring out My best”; “You’ve always been with me, and all that I have is yours”; “I had to celebrate and rejoice”, because we’re all lost and in need of being found, and we all have a Father who’s just waiting to ‘celebrate us home’. (Luke 15)
