Use your Words!
It's one of the things you often hear parents say to their toddlers. When a little one is upset, angry or hurting they come running to their parents, often with tears streaming, and the inarticulate wails that indicate the imminent ending of the world. And even though the parent often knows exactly what is going on, you still hear that familiar phrase "Now use your words..."Jesus' parable of the Lost Son has been applauded even by non-religious literary scholars for its impact and effectiveness as a short story.
But it struck me that it could have been even shorter if Jesus didn't include the repetition of the son's words: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
But the repetition of his confession makes a powerful point:
He thought about what he was going to say and then he said it.
The confession wasn't a spur of the moment, nor was it something that was planned but never executed. The repetition of his words underlines the seriousness and importance of this moment.
The son "used his words."
And so must we - Whether we need to apologise to God or to someone we have hurt, our confession needs to sincere: it should be thought-through beforehand and then courageously delivered.
The prophet Hosea wrote "Take words with you and return to the LORD.
Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips." (Hos 14:2)
Is there S[s]omeone who you need to make right with?
Use your words...
| I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ' (Luke15:18-21) |
