Article August 3, 1935 ISSUE

The Return Home

[Original article in German]

MARGARETE KÜNDINGER

In Jesus' parable of the prodigal son the younger son left home after receiving his portion of the paternal inheritance. Material sense conjured up before him pictures of happiness and success, and no thought of care troubled him. Nevertheless, vicissitude soon came. In this story we read that he "wasted his substance with riotous living," and that later on "he began to be in want." He squandered his goods and learned too late that he was not capable of supporting himself and of doing worth-while work.

Despite his mistakes and sins, the father's welcome awaited him. Even while he was far away the father's love reached out to him; but while he was self-confident and apparently happy, the prodigal did not see this love and had no desire for it. Not until lack, hunger, and repentance overcame him did he awake from the sense dream and despairingly reach out for his father's home.

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