In John Paul Sartre's words, Imagination is the ability to think of what is not. That is the starting place for forgiveness. The Imaginative Father becomes the Forgiving Father as he pictures a family that is not broken, not bitter, not blaming.
Wayne Oates says a "child learns to trust those who demonstrate that they are dependable." Has God proven himself to be dependable to you? If, in your mind God has not, could it be that you have not depended enough on him?
See the flesh of Christ in the poor, and seek justice for them. See the flesh of Christ also in the rich, and pray that wealth does not destroy them. And see the flesh of Christ when you gaze in the mirror. Look at yourself, and say that this too is the flesh that God has married.
Jesus leaves us with a parable that has no ending. What will happen to this dysfunctional family is left up to us. Do we recognize our own lostness? Do we embody the love of God in all we say and do? Are we reconciled one to another? Would you like to hear it again?
This group Jesus was mixing with was "RENEGADES." They were scoundrels and misfits. He had no business mixing with them!!! This is the setting in which the story of the Prodigal Son takes place.
Just after World War II, Oscar Cullman suggested that Christ's death and resurrection were D-Day and VE-Day for Jesus Christ. The war was effectively over after the Normandy landings though there were many terrible battles yet to be fought. VE-Day was not yet in sight, the armistice not signed, but the war was over.
Jesus proclaims Himself a good shepherd, whose sheep know His voice. On closer examination we discover that the only reason the sheep know the good shepherd is because He knows them. Jesus initiates the relationship. Jesus knows His sheep. He knows you and He knows me — and that is why we are here today.
Jesus uses shocking language to say the bread sent from heaven is for the hungry, for the really, really hungry. It's for those of us who are so hungry that we eat like famished teenagers. It's a call to put aside politeness and to eat and drink grace as if our very lives depended upon it. And by the way, they do.
Besides Dad and Junior, there was another in that household, the elder brother. Call him "Sonny Moneybags," because now all of the family wealth will come to him, not just a portion. You can imagine Sonny's reaction when he heard of his brother's plans: "Goodbye and good riddance!"
The story of the blind man contrasts those who can see with those who can't. The irony is those who think they can see are blind, while those who are blind can see. This is good news for those willing to confess their ignorance. Only the self-assured and self-reliant need be concerned.