You probably recognize the allusion in these last three lines. They echo the response of the father of the prodigal when he saw his son returning from the far country (Luke 15:11–32). The son had wasted his life and probably a third of the family fortune. But as he returned home, his father saw him (how long had he been waiting and watching for him?) and ran to meet him. This parable of Jesus has been given a variety of titles. The best known, of course, is “The parable of the prodigal son.” But
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