Summary.

The leaving of the younger son is a shocking story, difficult for us in the West to fully understand.  To ask for his share of the inheritance and go to a ‘distant land’ was in essence saying ‘Father I wish you were dead, I can’t wait and I reject all that you have sought to teach me about my heritage. 

We often think of the younger son as someone who has walked away from God, ie a non-believer, but according to Henri Nouwen we can all be like the younger son.  Whenever we look to the world for affection, purpose, meaning, acceptance we effectively leave our Fathers home and reject his love.

But thankfully we can all ‘come to our senses’ and choose to return home where we will find a loving, forgiving God who desires to restore us fully to his sonship.