Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Allison. Today's scripture offers us a wiser way of being human as we step into the day.

Today's reading is another familiar one for many of us. It's the parable of the lost son, where Jesus tells a story about a son who runs from home and a father who

runs toward him. This isn't a lesson in trying harder or cleaning yourself up first. It's a

portrait of grace, a grace that moves to meet you on the road, and a grace that restores

belonging before you've earned a thing.

Today's reading is Luke 15, 11 through 32.

Jesus continued, there was a man who had two sons.

The younger one said to his father, father,

give me my share of the estate.

So he divided his property between them.

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. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a man who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he finally 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. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him,

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

Make me like one of your hired servants. 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.

The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

But the father said to his servants, quick, bring the best robe and put it on him,

but a ring on his finger and

sandals on his feet. Bring the fatten calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.

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