What are we going to do when we get home? When the two sons of the parable of the prodigal son both have returned to their father, what then? The answer is simple: They have to become fathers themselves. Sons have to become fathers; daughters have to become mothers.
Being children of God involves growing up and becoming like God. Jesus doesn’t hesitate to say this: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate” (see Matthew 5:48 and Luke 6:36).
How? By welcoming home our lost brothers and sisters the way our Father welcomes us home.
This is an excerpt from the book Becoming fathers and Mothers by Henry Nouwen.
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