You
Are Always With Me
Then
Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to
his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.'
So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son
gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered
his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine
took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and
hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his
fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that
the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself
he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare,
but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will
say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no
longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired
hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far
off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms
around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe - the best one -
and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get
the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine
was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!" And they began to
celebrate.
"Now
his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he
heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going
on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted
calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and
refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he
answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a
slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never
given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when
this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes,
you killed the fatted calf for him!" Then the father said to him, 'Son,
you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate
and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he
was lost and has been found.'"
Luke 15:11-32
No
matter where we are in our faith, and how many times we have strayed, Jesus is
still there for us, welcoming us back. At times we all feel the tendency to
wander from the One who redeemed us. Our loving Father is watching and waiting
for our return.
Our Daily Bread -