God, a Father who welcomes all his children

16 May 2023 0 Sandrine Laporte

The ladies of the FPC missionary team had the pleasure of gathering for the REF (ladies’ get-together) on 13^th and 14^th May at the farm “Come & See” in  Rouvrois-sur-Meuse.

In the familiar parable of the Prodigal son in Luke 15 Jesus told of two sons. The younger left home for a far country where he wasted his inheritance in riotous living, while the elder son stayed home and worked for his father. When the desperate younger son returned home, he was welcomed by his father and restored to his previous position, despite having lost everything. This made his brother extremely angry.

Taking this story as her starting point, Esther G. led us in an interactive and participatory reflexion in small groups, in full session or individually reacting to the biblical text.

We were all challenged by the attitude of the elder brother, who could have profited at home from all that his position made available, as well as from a privileged relationship with his father. Instead he served his father out of duty instead of love.

The father’s attitude to his two sons was the same. Both were distant, yet he went out to meet both and welcomed them enthusiastically in love.

Esther posed the question: what ought to have been the ideal reaction of the elder son? Some suggestions: he should have forgiven his brother and welcomed him as his father did. He should have accepted his younger brother’s reinstatement, even if it meant the loss of a part of his own fortune. He could have gone looking for his brother…

We became aware that all these positive attitudes are those Jesus has toward us, out of love. We often resemble one or other of the two brothers, yet Jesus came looking for us. He welcomes us just as we are. He paid the price for us to be reinstated. He opened the way to the Father.

Each of those present was encouraged by these truths which are so full of hope. Besides times of meditation we took a lovely Spring walk through the Meuse countryside, enjoyed good meals prepared by Muriel and praised our God for all he means to us.

Lise guided us with her natural talent in the times of sharing, enabling us to get to know one another better. In the evening she made use of the game “The Big Bath” to involve us spontaneously in sharing deeply on serious topics which are important for our spiritual walk.

We find such gatherings useful both for personal refreshing and for our cohesion as a team. We look forward eagerly to the next meeting and hope that some who were prevented this time will be able to join us.

Sandrine L.