Prodigal Son: Patience, the space for repentance

The Eternal Struggle with Patience

Patience is one of the most challenging virtues to obtain.

Difficult in the moment

kids that drive you nuts

annoying sounds on car rides

irritating people at work

Difficult in the long term

exercising and eating healthy

building a company from the ground up

growing a family parish from broken beginnings

waiting for children to find their way

Patience is difficult so naturally we waiver in our pursuit of this virtue.

Give up on pursuits due to set backs

sever relationships that are taxing

abandon groups that struggling

The parable of the prodigal son makes a case for us to rekindle our pursuit of patiences

Repentance is a process

Luke 15:1–2 NASB95

1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Chapter of Parables

Lost sheep

lost coin

Lost son “prodigal son”

The Prodigal Son is a beautiful picture of us all at some point in our lives.

Enjoying the safety and security of home

Wondering what was else was out there

Like James said

James 1:14 NASB95

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

After pursuing what he envisioned as ‘living’ he became hungry.

Luke 15:14 NASB95

14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

How do you understand “Impoverished” (in need)

physically…hunger, shelter

Mentally…purpose meaning

spiritually…separation from the father

Emotionally…lonely

Luke 15:17 NASB95

17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

Sobering up

Realization of potential provisions but also of belonging because he refers to him as ‘my father’

Our Eternal Beacon can never be underestimated

“Deprive the pilot of the hope of reaching port, and he will wander aimlessly here on the waves. Take away the crown from he athlete, and he will fail and lie on the course. Take from the fisher the power of catching his bounty, and he will cease to cast the nets. How, then, can he, who suffers hunger in his soul, pray more earnestly to God, if he has no hope of the heavenly food?” ~St. Ambrose of Milan A Model of Repentance

How this beacon works is always mysterious and sacred.

life circumstance

failures

stubbornness and temperament of the individual

support

The eternal beacon is mysterious but continuous

Patience, the space for repentance

The road to repentance is always paved and ready for us but when we decide to walk it home is unknown.

Luke 15:20 NASB95

20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Which is why patience is such an important virtue embodied by the father...

Its patience that keeps the door of repentance open.

Just as the father has been patient with me, so He calls me to be patient with others.

Forgiveness and reconciliation with others is one of the many ways we also experience the presence of God in our lives.

In our pursuit of patience do we open this door up.

“The one who perished is rescued, because he embraced repentance. Repentance is not wasted because it meets up with patience! ~The Scholar Tertullian The Patience of the Father