The Prodigal Lost Sheep Is Me!

The Prodigal Lost Sheep Is Me!

Have we ever thought about the similarity between the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the parable of the Prodigal Son. The message is virtually identical. In each case, the father, the shepherd, the caretaker drops everything he is doing to welcome home the lost victim of self-limited mortal intelligence.

In the first instance, the sheep is too busy enjoying the taste and smells of its daily routine of eating. Its shallow thinking is just the present physical enjoyment of eating. We’ve all been there!

With the Prodigal Son, the lost sheep goes in search of good times and wealth. . . and fails. Returns home stripped of all his worldly goods, basically naked before his father.

In both cases, the father welcomes the lost soul back to the foal, whether it is gluttony or mammon from which it has returned. This is God glorifying us when we return to His house, His creation. We have sinned; He does not care; He loves us.

I remember my return. I thought I was alive before; how wrong I was! I live now in God’s glory, my physical stature has changed due to age, but my spiritual self, my true self, the self belonging to God is perfect. I am the Prodigal Lost Sheep.

©Russell Kendall Carter