The parable of the prodigal son has been re-enacted in a little village in the South of France.
Sitting on a public bench under the burning midday sun was a young man with his face buried in his hands. He was the picture of complete despair. Colporteur Charvet, who had just returned after thirty-four years of service, entered into conversation with him, and offered him a New Testament.
“I don’t want it,” was the reply. “I used to have one, but it was too big to carry, and I threw it into the water.”
Somehow or other, the colporteur felt that this was not the real reason why he had thrown the book away. After a little more conversation and a few tactful questions, the young man opened his heart and told his story.
“Several months ago”, he said, “I left my parents and went to the town to live my own life in my own way. But things did not go as I expected. My hope and my money gradually disappeared. Now I have nothing left. I intended to return home—that is my home there, the white house you see in the valley—but having got this far, I am ashamed to go any further. I’m afraid too that if my parents should refuse to forgive me there would be nothing left for me but death.”
After listening to this sad confession, M. Charvet, profoundly touched by the story, opened his New Testament and read the parable of the prodigal son. The young man saw the application of the parable to himself and began to weep over his sinful past.
Suddenly the colporteur conceived a great idea. Telling the prodigal to remain where he was, he hastened to the house in the valley that had been pointed out to him. Knocking at the door, he offered the New Testament to the old man who opened the door, and who was soon joined by his wife. Asked what kind of a book it was, he read them the same story of the prodigal and of the father’s love in receiving him back. Moved to the very depths of his soul by the powerful story, which in the course of the ages has brought tears to so many eyes, the man opened his heart and told M. Charvet his story.
“We had a son once, and he was everything to us,” he said. “Unfortunately, we did not get on well together, and he went away. We heard nothing from him since. We would gladly forgive him if he would return, but we do not know where to find him.”
Then Charvet told him everything. “I know where your son is to be found,” he began. “He is quite near here, humble and repentant; and has sent me to ask your pardon. He wants but a word from you to return home.”
A few moments later, the overjoyed mother was weeping on her son’s neck, and the father, after kissing him on both cheeks, was shaking his hands. Then they all gave thanks to God for His goodness and gladly bought a Testament in which they could read together of the love of God the Father, who reconciles poor prodigals, lost sinners, to Himself through Jesus Christ.
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” Luke 15: 20,22-24.
ML 06/18/1967