We find the prodigal son in a terrible predicament. He is serving the pigs, and he is despairing. We also see the beginning of wisdom -- he comes to himself. It reminds me of the first step of AA -- admitting that a life has become unmanageable, acknowledging the problem. If we skip this step, we can continue to live in denial of any problems.
The son has come to himself and sees the problem, and he sees what the next step on his journey will be like.
However, he is making himself the center of the story, assuming that he knows how the Father will react. He doesn't count on grace, for he recognizes the shameful way that he has treated the Father before his departure. We often do the same -- we recognize our sin, and as we go to God, we don't count on grace, for we haven't earned any.
What is wondrous about this story, about the Gospel, is that we haven't earned it, but we receive it anyway. We are the recipients of treasure far greater than the world can understand. God is ready, as we'll see over the course of the week, to receive and to bless, far more ready than our minds can grasp.
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