16He 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 men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.´ 20So 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. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let´s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.´ So they began to celebrate.

Introduction : Spring is a positive season. The outstretched hand of warm life reappears in the rivers and mountains that have been frozen during the winter and on the hills that have been destroyed by forest fires and avalanches. Let us forgive and forget the ruined past, and create a new life of greenery with flower gardens. It is the same case with the life of a human being. As the winter of life passes by, we experience failure. If we ignore such a life of despair that has been hurt and lost, our life falls into ruins. But when we cry out to Jesus at the Cross, we can recover and receive forgiveness for our past. When we are forgiven and forget about our past, we can move forward toward the dream of tomorrow. This is a life of positivity.


◎ In order for the prodigal son to get out of the pigpen

1. Get out of the swamp of guilt and regret from the past
    1) The sin of betraying his father (Lk 15:12-13).
    2) An immoral and self-indulgent life (Lk 15:13).
    3) The guilt of squandering all valuable assets-repentance and forgiveness, because
        he committed sin against God and his father (Lk 15:18-19).
    4) Seek forgiveness, and also forgive oneself (Lk 15:20-21).
    5) We should ask for forgiveness and also forgive ourselves (1Jn 1:9; Heb 9:14).

2. Forget the days of the past
    1) The past as a rich person (Pr 23:5; Lk 12:15).
    2) The glorious and proud past (Ps 52:7; Isa 1:4).
    3) Resentment toward the women and his friends who betrayed him (Ps 37:8; 30:4-5).
    4) Accept yourself as a person who lost everything (Ps 40:17; Mt 5:3).
    5) Lower yourself as a servant (Ps 34:18; Joel 2:13).

3. Let us return to our Father
    1) Go toward hope (Jer 29:11-13).
    2) A life that starts from zero, as a servant (1Pe 5:5-7).
    3) A new life, a life surrounded by grace (Isa 65:16-17).
        (1) The best robe (Ro 3:24).
        (2) A ring (1Pe 2:9).
        (3) Sandals (Isa 53:5).
        (4) Feast (Ps 16:11).


Conclusion : The only way to come out of life in the swamp is to live a positive life. This is done by being born again through forgiveness at the Cross, while completely forgetting our past and running toward the bosom of the grace of God.