The Monk, the Painting, and the Father Who Runs: A Journey into Abba’s Love
Rembrandt van Rijn, The Return of the Prodigal Son (c. 1668), Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons. A shorter version of a message originally shared at Whyte’s Causeway Baptist Church: Years ago, during my time with the L'Arche community, I was sent on a silent retreat. After days of profound quiet, we gathered in a large hall for a final meeting. At the front of that room hung a massive reproduction of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son . As I sat there, I witnessed something I’ve never forgotten: a Franciscan monk began to dance down the aisle. Watching him move in his habit with such uninhibited joy, I realized I was seeing someone who truly understood the heart of God. He wasn't just thinking about theology; he was experiencing the welcome of a Father. It was a physical manifestation of the joy of the Kingdom—the kind of joy that comes when you stop trying to earn a place at the table and realize you were invited all along. The True Self The late Br...