It's important to remember that this is a parable...a story...that follows parables about lost sheep and a lost coin. But now the Savior teaches us about a lost person. A lost soul.
There are so many deep lessons to be learned from this parable. We all are, or have been, the younger son in some way. We definitely must "come to ourselves" at some point in our lives to accept Jesus's gift of atonement and grace.
We always have opportunity to be the father...to be forgiving and accepting and welcoming and loving. To leave the past behind, and just be grateful for today.
And we are so very often the older brother...a little self righteous, jealous, judgemental, and angry.
For a wonderful in depth study of the parable, read "The Return of the Prodigal Son" by Henri J. M. Nouwen.
Once again, there is much more depth to this story than we usually think, as we skim over it in Sunday school and our personal study.
RexMay 13, 2019
Did the Younger son repent? We know that he recognized his wrong doing and he expressed sorrow. While he was given the robes, shoes and ring by his father, a number of Apostles have stated that the prodigal son had squandered his inheritance and would not be placed before the older son. I am trying to square the article with the many statements of apostles and prophets that seem to indicate otherwise to what the article contains.
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Chris EpsonMay 15, 2019
It's important to remember that this is a parable...a story...that follows parables about lost sheep and a lost coin. But now the Savior teaches us about a lost person. A lost soul. There are so many deep lessons to be learned from this parable. We all are, or have been, the younger son in some way. We definitely must "come to ourselves" at some point in our lives to accept Jesus's gift of atonement and grace. We always have opportunity to be the father...to be forgiving and accepting and welcoming and loving. To leave the past behind, and just be grateful for today. And we are so very often the older brother...a little self righteous, jealous, judgemental, and angry. For a wonderful in depth study of the parable, read "The Return of the Prodigal Son" by Henri J. M. Nouwen. Once again, there is much more depth to this story than we usually think, as we skim over it in Sunday school and our personal study.
RexMay 13, 2019
Did the Younger son repent? We know that he recognized his wrong doing and he expressed sorrow. While he was given the robes, shoes and ring by his father, a number of Apostles have stated that the prodigal son had squandered his inheritance and would not be placed before the older son. I am trying to square the article with the many statements of apostles and prophets that seem to indicate otherwise to what the article contains.
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