Luke 15:32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:32
The parable concludes with a summative statement: “It was meet that we should make merry… for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” The father reframes the younger brother’s return as a resurrection of life, a reversal of death and loss. The celebration embodies the joy of restored relationship—an invitation to all to join in God’s transformative mercy. The elder Son’s continued absence from the feast becomes poignant, underscoring that the fullness of mercy is not merely about individual repentance but about communal reconciliation.
This closing beat reaffirms the core gospel message: life from death, return from exile, and healing of broken relationships through divine mercy. It invites believers to see salvation as relational restoration rather than individual achievement. The narrative ends with a call to participate in the father’s Joy—an invitation to extend mercy to others, embracing the full scope of God’s grace.
Live as a participant in the Father’s joy. Take time to celebrate others’ restored relationships and extend acts of mercy in your communities. Be mindful of the elder brother’s absence; invite him or her into the feast of grace by modeling hospitality, generosity, and forgiveness. The practical takeaway: mercy is contagious; let your actions mirror heaven’s celebration when a sinner repents and returns home.
Cross-References: Luke 15:11-32; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:11