UPFRONT December 15, 2008 Issue

COMING HOME

MAIKE BYRD, STAFF EDITOR

The Christian Science Sentinel was founded in 1898 by Mary Baker Eddy, and its mission remains the same: "to hold guard over Truth, Life, and Love." The Sentinel continues to report on the unlimited ways that the healing power and presence of the Christ activates, uplifts, and transforms the lives of everyday people around the world.

"A certain man had two sons ...." That's how Jesus begins his well-known parable of the prodigal son. The Sentinel's feature topic this week had me looking for a beautiful little book on my bookshelf, a recent gift waiting to be read. In it, author Henri Nouwen tells about his encounter with Rembrandt's painting "The Return of the Prodigal Son," which became a long spiritual journey leading him to the inspiring conclusion that in coming home, we are called to be like the Father. "Being in the Father's house," Nouwen says, "requires that I make the Father's life my own and become transformed in his image" (The Return of the Prodigal Son—A Story of Homecoming, p. 123).

Like both sons in the parable, each one of us—man or woman, son or daughter—always has our Father's unconditional love and care. And our compassionate, open-armed God loves us at once as Father and Mother. Jesus' parable uniquely captures humanity's hunger for divine Love, which is satisfied every time one of us comes home to the understanding that we are held safely in our Father-Mother's embrace, and that all that God has is ours. Divine Love never stops reaching out to bring us home.

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