Celebration

We celebrate a lot of things in life. Birthdays become graduations and then accomplishments at work. When we choose to get married, we celebrate every year we are together and for some it is a feeling of "We made it this far." Celebrations are all around us for every reason we can imagine: New Years, Valentines, Tax Day (only if we get money back), Easter, Independence Day, and on and on and on.

When the younger son came home to his father, he was certainly not expecting a celebration. But that's exactly what he encountered.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. (Luke 15:20b-23 NIV)

There are two parts of this story that would not have made sense to the hearers of Jesus' day. The first was the beginning of the story. It would have taken a lot of gaul for the son to ask the father for his half of the inheritance. One Jewish scholar states that this was equal to telling the father, "I wish you were dead."

The second confusing part is right here. The father could have responded in many different ways. He could have told his son, "You're dead to me now." He could have said, "You made your bed. Now lie in it." He could have sent his son away and been completely justified. If he was nice he could have said, "I will let you come home, but I have some conditions..." But he didn't. The father welcomed his son home with open arms. He ran down to the end of the driveway to greet him. The father threw a party. He celebrated because his son came home.

How about you? Had the Father celebrated because you came home?