One of our brothers came home on Sunday. I don't know that he was looking for a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree but he certainly got at least a hundred all over the church property to welcome him. One of our teens alone had about 50 ribbons pinned to his shirt. It was all to say we are glad to have you back.Jesus tells the story of the son's homecoming more beautifully than Tony Orlando's song. The father waits at the end of the lane with an eye on the horizon. The son, who left home as a young man with his whole inheritance to spend, was presumed lost, hopelessly lost and never to return. Presumed, that is, by all but his hopeful father.
Everyone heard of how the son shamefully spent his wealth on worldy pleasures, making new friends who were only too happy to help him spend his money. The far away land was neither far enough away for his older brother who hated how this younger sibling shamed their father nor was it close enough for his father who longed to embrace his wayward son. The young man eventually found himself penniless, which led to friendlessness, which led to desperation. As he slaved away on some farm to earn a meager pittance, he hungrily fought off the urge to eat the pods he was feeding the pigs.
The he came to his senses and realized there was one place where he was loved. Surely his father would be kind enough to take him back as a servant in his family's household. Then he could perhaps restore some dignity to his shattered life. He hurried home with a heart full of pentience.
He wasn't looking for a yellow ribbon. He wouldn't dare ask for a robe or a ring or a celebration feast from his father. However, his father was planning for all of that (except the ribbon, of course) and went running to welcome his son when he glimpsed him in the distance.
Sunday's yellow ribbons were our way of showing the same acceptance that our heavenly Father has for one of our brothers who fell badly. We all have fallen in our own way. At some point I too was lost and dead in my sins. When I brought myself humble and broken to God, he welcomed me as his son. All was forgiven.
The other half of the story is the older brother. He could not bring himself to forgive. But the lesson is that as I have been forgiven of all, so I must forgive my brother. How can I not show the grace that God has shown me.
Never have I been so happy to be part of a church!
