Constant Coulibaly

The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 teaches us valuable lessons. One of these is that when someone has wronged you but then genuinely wants to make amends after some time has passed, it is important to meet them halfway.

What I mean by meeting halfway is that you should help the person who has wronged you to make things right, rather than making it difficult for them. Saying “I am sorry” is already something hard to do for someone who has done wrong. It is for them like climbing a mountain. As the lyrics of one of Elton John's songs say, the word “sorry” is the “hardest word” to say.  Yet it is a simple thing to say. It is a simple act of remorse that is crucial for the restoration of a broken relationship.

What often makes it even more difficult for the offender to apologise is the struggle with their own ego and pride that goes on within them. They also have to overcome the fear of humiliation and an overwhelming sense of failure. In our society today, the focus on competition and success can make it very hard for someone to admit their mistakes and faults, as that can be seen as a sign of defeat.

There is always a temptation for the offended party to make the offender feel bad about the sin committed. People often succumb to this temptation, depending on how embittered they have become due to the grudge they carry.

Welcoming someone who is taking steps to reconcile, despite having done you wrong, can help lift the weight of embarrassment off their shoulders. The father in the narrative in Luke 15 literally met his repentant son halfway. The son was on his way home, still “a great way off” when “his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (v. 20). The father seems to have been waiting for his son.

Not only was the father willing to welcome the lad, but he was also happy to embrace him. This guilty child had come to his sense, admitted his mistake, and made effort to return home. Seeing his father putting himself within his reach must have freed him from the prison of guilt. It must consequently have given him the strength to pour his heart out in apology. Verse 21 says, “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” What a turnaround! The child who thought he could do without his father, and for that reason went away from the family home, has become humble. He asked to be a servant in his father’s house (v. 19).

The paternal attitude being exemplified in Luke's story is not to be limited to the parent-child relationship. It's needed in any relationship, be it one involving two colleagues at work, husband and wife in the home, teacher and student in school, or brothers and sisters in the church.

Contextually, the parable of the prodigal son was spoken to the Pharisees and scribes because they were critical of Jesus for His association with tax collectors and sinners. These religious people had no idea what forgiveness meant. So, the Lord told them this story, together with two others (the parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin), to teach them the truth about compassion and empathy.

As much as the individual who has been sinned against needs to have their hurt healed with a genuine apology from the offender, the one at fault equally needs to be shown mercy with great care and love. So many strained relationships between family members, spouses, friends, and neighbours could be avoided when a willingness to repent and a desire to forgive meet halfway.

Revised, The Evangelist, June 2020