The Prodigal Son

Professor M. Smith English 101 The Prodigal Son, a parable told by Jesus Christ on his journey to Jerusalem and retold in the Gospel of Luke found in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, has become more then a tale of hope for Catholic families to hold on to but for all families to hold on to the faith they have for their children, the new generation, to do right in the world.In many cases there is a rebellious child who wishes and tries to break away from the rest of the family because he or she is feed up with the rules of the house laid down by the parents and believe they can live a lifestyle of their choosing, recklessly and with no thought of consequences that inevitably follows. Without guidance from our love ones, there is no perseverance and with no perseverance, happiness cannot exist.The message Jesus Christ was trying to convey is that God is patient and all forgiving of us but, it is up to us the sinners to realize that we truly need this forgiveness in our lives to move ahead in a positive manner that will reward us during our remainder on Earth and in Heaven to come. A parable is “a short story with the intent to teach a lesson to its audience (OED)”.

I believe, though the tale is of Christianity descent, religious followers of any practice as well as atheists can relate to this story to themselves at one point in their lives or another.As a loving parent I wish all the wonders of the world for my child and for him to reach great achievements throughout his life that are more important than just being financially secure and materialized. These achievements are too have a better understanding of how to live a more fulfilling life and if religious, have faith in God that Thy will guide you to all that is bliss in the world. I can proudly say that many parents live like I do, for the gratitude of their child’s or children’s well being. In this parable, the father exemplifies a true meaning of love for his child.As the story begins, the father is asked by his youngest son to divide all the estate that will be given to him and his older brother once he passes away. The loving father is left with two choices, ignore his youngest son’s selfish request and ostracize him, if willing to, from the home or grant the request and wait suffering for his son to return, learning of his poor judgment and betrayal to his father.

A numerous amount of parents teach their kids valuable lessons by allowing them to experience hands on rather than just verbally expressing what could ultimately happen.As human beings we learn much through trial and error in efforts that we can grasp the meaning of right from wrong and avoid making the same mistakes over again throughout our lives. “Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living” (Luke 15: verse 13). The young son proved to be irresponsible and became needy. In efforts to survive he feed pigs for a living but pondered the thought of living at home. ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise 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 as one of your hired servants” (17-19). The son did not come to this decision because he acknowledged his wrong doing but simply desperation to feed himself. He believed in doing this act he would have to deal with the anger and rejection of his father and older brother.He was overwhelmed with fear when he saw his father running toward him but he noticed that the expression on his father’s face was full of joy. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (20-21) and his manipulative speech dissolved into nothing.

It was the father’s love and acceptance that showed his son forgiveness.He called for the servants to cloth and prepare a feast for the return of the Prodigal son, “a person who leaves home and behaves in such a way, but later makes a repentant return (OED),” because “for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (24). Rather than just interpreting this parable as a religious lesson, that God waits for us to return to his love through penance and goodwill, we can use this as a guide to lead us to gain a better understanding and closeness with not just our parents but with all of whom we’ve been in contact with.It’s not an easy thing to do but, quite alright to fail and admit to being wrong because forgiveness doesn’t begin with God but within us. In some shape or form we have all played the role of the young son, arrogant and lost. Some of us realize, faster than others, that we need forgiveness to overcome. Some of us haven’t forgiven yet those that have hurt us in the past, like the older brother who refused to part take in the return of his young sibling.

Forgiveness is a powerful tool that we all possess and that we should all utilize on those who truly seek it.