Rembrandt van Rijn, The Return of the Prodigal Son, c.1661-1688. 262cm x 205cm.Heritage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Inspired by the image of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son we will prayerfully reflect on the theme of desolation and consolation that cycle in the story. Although the parable is honest about the darkness of relationships, the warm and healing light of love which draws us upward illuminates our hearts with God’s gift of consolation based on the HOPE of unconditional acceptance.
However familiar the parable of the Prodigal Son may be, there are always new insights into the profound truth of God’s infinite, unconditional love and our potential to love as God loves with compassion. When love feels far from us, we experience the darkness of desolation but when we experience the love of God in prayer or through the love of another person, we cycle toward the light of HOPE and experience consolation beyond all imagining.