prodigal was keenly aware of the loathful and despicable life he had lived in self-
exile, which was shamefully different from what his father had taught and
expected of him.
This is the deep and sincere repentance that the Father is seeking from all His lost
children, and longs to receive them back home no matter where they are, at
whatever stage in their life’s journey.
The prodigal eventually returned home, full of regret, remorse and deep sorrow
for all his wrongdoing. He debated in his heart and mind the words he would use
to make his father accept him back. He was convinced that the father no longer
wanted anything to do with him, and that he had moved on, erased him from his
life. And so he took heavy, painful steps back home, not knowing what to expect,
but for all it was worth, he would try to get his father’s forgiveness.
‘“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion
for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him”’ (Luke 15:20).
This must have been an utter shock for the prodigal. At first he probably wasn’t
sure whether the father was running towards him in love or in wrath. Then he saw
the smile, the outstretched arms, and, in complete dismay, fell into his father’s
arms. Not knowing what to think, but having rehearsed for so long what he would
say to his father on his return, he uttered these words in Luke 15:18- 19 :
‘”...Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be
called your son....”’
Almost as if he could not imagine forgiveness without him putting any effort. But
to the father, he had already put in all the effort, he had felt remorseful and
repentant enough to return back home. But in order to renounce his earlier
statements when he asked for his inheritance and ran off, in order to confess his
sins, those words had to be uttered to express repentance. It was necessary that
the father hears from his son’s own lips that he was sorry and recognized he was
wrong in all that he had done!
God says in the Book of Hosea 14:2, ‘Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say
to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our
lips.”’