Revival & Grace

Reading again the Prodigal Son story in Luke 15, I am reminded of the grace of the father, and in particular as reflected in v. 32, the last words of the story: “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

The grace that strikes me here is what I see as the celebration of revival – “But we HAD to celebrate….”  It is so easy to hold on to screw ups, mine or others, even after the realization of the screw up and the metanoia, the changing of the heart and mind as a result of that realization.   It is so easy to berate myself or others for mistakes, even after the mistake is acknowledged and remedial action is taken.  But the father here does not go there, despite the urging of the older son.  The father recognizes the revival and the need to celebrate it: “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”