Brothers and sisters, let us turn our hearts to one of the most beautiful parables ever told—the story of the Prodigal Son. A story that speaks to the deepest yearnings of our souls, a story that reveals the very heart of God. This is a story not just about a wayward son, but about the longing of our Heavenly Father for each and every sinner—no matter how far we have gone, no matter how lost we may feel.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells us about a young man who demands his inheritance, leaves his father's house, and wastes everything he has in reckless living. He finds himself in a foreign land, destitute and alone. He reaches rock bottom, working with pigs, hungry and ashamed. And it is in this desperate place, in the very depths of his sin, that he comes to himself and remembers his father’s house. He remembers that even the servants in his father’s house have food to spare, while he is perishing in hunger. He decides to return, saying, “I will go back to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.”

Now, my friends, I want you to pay attention to what happens next. This son, who thought he was beyond redemption, who believed he had gone too far, who was ready to throw himself at his father’s mercy, was met with something utterly unexpected. What does the father do? He runs to him. He doesn’t wait for the son to make it all the way home. He doesn’t wait for him to earn back his place. He doesn’t lecture him or punish him. No, the father sees him from a distance, and with arms wide open, he runs to his son and embraces him.

This is the heart of God for sinners. This is the radical, unyielding love of our Heavenly Father. You see, God is not a distant judge waiting for us to fall short so He can condemn us. No! God is a Father, and His heart burns with love for His children. When we wander away, when we fall into sin, He doesn’t stand back with crossed arms, waiting for us to prove our worth. Instead, He is waiting, yearning, longing for us to turn back to Him. And when we do, He runs to us. He doesn’t make us crawl back in shame; He meets us with grace, with mercy, with a love that knows no bounds. This parable is not just about a son returning home. It is about the desire of God to bring all of us back into His embrace. How often do we feel like that Prodigal Son? How often do we wander off, caught up in the pleasures and distractions of this world, only to find ourselves empty and broken, far from the Father's love? But know this: no matter how far we have gone, no matter how deep our sin, God is always waiting. His arms are always open. His love is always ready to welcome us home. God desires sinners. He desires YOU. So come, return to the Father. His arms are open wide, and He is waiting for you with love that will never let you go. Amen.