What to Do?

Scripture – Luke 15:11-16: 11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Reflection: This is the beginning of one of the most familiar stories in the Bible. This is where it’s very hard to read as though I’ve never seen it before. It’s far easier to think, “Ah, yes, the prodigal son. I’ve got this. I know this lesson.” So the challenge is to look a little harder or from a different angle. Over the next few days what will the Lord be saying through this “lost and found” story?

The beginning of the story reminds me of our country’s situation right now. We have squandered great wealth. We have given ourselves over to the instant gratification approach to life, and now we’re paying the price. We find ourselves in need, and there’s no one to bail us out. What will we do? What are our options? Where is God in the midst of this? These are questions to consider as the story unfolds.