Meditation on The Return of the Prodigal
The Return of the Prodigal: Rembrandt
-
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 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 servants.’ 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.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
JB – ‘Rembrandt’
Return of the prodigal, painted by Rembrandt in 1669. Probably one of his last paintings.
It is Large 244cm (8ft) x 183cm (6ft). It is currently (2025) hanging in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The painting shows the prodigal being welcomed home by his father to one side the elder brother looks on in the background our other people who are unknown. One is possibly the mother in the shadows at the back. It is believed the prodigal himself is a self-portrait by the artist.
Enjoy the colours and shapes. The artist uses a small palette of browns, ochres and white with golden tints.
Notice the younger son: peaceful and restful in the embrace of his father. The son's garments are soiled and worn. His sandals broken and useless, one is detached. Looking at his feet you might think about his journey not Just yes homecoming but his roving. Perhaps play with the hardships of your journey. Maybe you have been on similar wanderings in the past.
His head and beard are shaven like that of someone who has a disease or has lice or a convict.
The son is aware only of the presence of his father despite the onlookers. The father holds him to his breast with specific embrace with his hands lead on his shoulders. There is a heart-shaped centre to the father and son’s embrace. The Father’s touch is light like the yoke that Jesus describes in Matt 11:28-30.
The son appears to be peace. John 14:27, ‘Peace that the world cannot give, my peace I give to you.’ Shalom.
It is a precious place to be close to the father's heart – Isaiah 40:11.
Notice hands are not a pair. The left hand is a masculine hand, the hand of a labourer. The right hand is more delicate with long fingers, a narrow wrist and manicured nails. They are not necessarily masculine and feminine - they could be a labourer and vocational worker, like a medic or a lawyer or white-collar worker. Some consider the hands could represent the first world and the developing world coming together on the shoulders of the son.
If you are reflecting on this picture as part of prayer time think about which person you identify with. Which character resembles your feelings today?
Exercise: The Return of the Prodigal
Read Luke 15:11-32
Exercise 1 Praying with your imagination.
Imagine yourself in the presence of the father.
Recognise the senses: the sight, the sound, the smell, the taste - each sense has connections with our experience of God, our inner self, our soul being nourished.
Imagine the tactile sense - God's touch….
Mystery of his glorious majesty brilliant light inaccessible and yet equally present in the love between a parent and child.
Imagine words Abba on his lips - on your lips (Romans 8:15)
Exercise 2 Praying with your imagination.
Imagine what father and son may be saying to each other.
Look at the other characters in the scene and imagine yourself there in their presence.
Hear what the characters are saying to you, look around at the other characters, observing their reactions. Do you identify with any of them?
After a while looking and imagining rest in the peace that is seen on the son’s face and the peace conveyed by the father's embrace.
