Everyone loves a great story teller, and Jesus was one of the very best. His stories entertained his listeners, but they also caused them to think. Probably one of the most beloved of Jesus’ wonderful stories or parables was the story of the Prodigal Son. There are several reasons for this story being such a favorite. First, we can identify with the people in the story, even though it was told long ago. This story helps us learn something about ourselves. And second, as Jesus’ stories do, this one gives us a glimpse into the very heart of God. This story is found in Luke 15, beginning at verse 11. Here’s what Jesus said. 11…"There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
Now, let me emphasize just what an outrageous request this young man has made. In that society, the younger son would have received one third of his father’s estate, and his older brother would receive two thirds. The very idea of asking for one’s inheritance while the father is still alive is outrageous. He is, in effect, wishing his father dead. By asking for his share of the estate, he is saying he has no concern whatsoever for his father’s welfare.
But his father complies. Most fathers would simply refuse, of course, but this one, perhaps hiding the sorrow he is feeling in his heart, agrees to give this ungrateful son exactly what he has asked for. He divides his property, which admittedly appears to be vast, probably selling some property in order to pay off this younger son who wants to go his own way. This son receives a lot of money. His entire inheritance. And his father simply watches to see what his son will do, now that he has gotten his own way. Here’s what happened.
13"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.
Wild living is the polite way of describing what that young man did with his inheritance. His older brother will tell us later that he squandered his money with prostitutes. And who knows what else he did? Jesus doesn’t tell us how long it takes for this young man to squander all of his father’s money. He apparently had a small fortune, so this wild living may have gone on for many years.
But eventually, his money ran out.
14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When this young man, who may not have been quite so young by that time, hit bottom, he hit it hard. He was flat broke in the time of a severe famine. A severe famine meant even the pigs were probably in danger of getting skinny. Decent work was nowhere to be found. You can be sure that this guy did not want to work taking care of pigs. In the Jewish tradition, pigs were considered to be disgusting, unclean animals, and no Jew would even eat pork, let alone hang around with pigs. But this younger brother, the one who had probably been a wild and popular man about town, was now reduced to living in squalor with the pigs. His pay was so minimal that he longed to eat the food that was given to the pigs, but no one would even let him eat the pigs’ food. How low can you get? There’s no soup kitchen in this town, and no one—including his old party animal pals, cares one bit whether he lives or dies.
He is isolated and starving, and he’s not sure he can even manage to keep himself alive.
Then comes one of my favorite lines in this story: “When he came to his senses….” Don’t you love that? “When he came to his senses…” For a long, long time, this guy has been on a downward spiral, completely out of control. Even back when he lived in his father’s house, his mind had gone out of control. We don’t know why, but already he had become outrageously selfish, with no regard for his father’s welfare. And, of course, he had no care even for his own welfare, when you think about it. Even a minimally prudent young man would have saved some of that inheritance for his own future. But this guy had no sense and apparently no morals. But one day, maybe after working all day in the fields caring for the pigs while his own belly was painfully empty, he came to his senses.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
These hired men are probably people this guy scorned back when he lived at home. I mean, can you imagine this guy being particularly thankful or kind to the people who cleaned up after him? I rather doubt it. He probably looked down his nose at those poor unfortunate people who had to work for a living. But now, he has come to his senses, and he realizes that, thanks to his father who pays them, they at least earn a decent living. They at least have a roof over their heads and food to eat. And he hatches a plan.
18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
He really has no choice. He realizes he will probably die at the rate he is going. So he decides to plead for mercy. He’s not, of course, going to ask to be reinstated as his father’s number two son. He’s pretty sure his father is very angry with him for the way he has squandered his share of the estate. He knows full well that he has been a jerk and a failure. But he hopes his father will take pity on him and allow him to live with the hired men and work for a living. He has no idea whether or not he will be rejected—most likely his father has disowned him in anger. But he can think of no alternative, so he starts out for home, planning to beg for mercy. All the way home, he’s trying to think of what he will say.
"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.
What kind of father is this? The father sees him while he is still a long way off. How can this be? This son has been gone for a long time. Perhaps the father walks out to the end of the road in the evening, looking into the distance, hoping his son will come back to him. Sure, the father has felt everything you might expect: disgust, anger, frustration. But he also misses this son, because he loves his son. And this is, after all, still his son. So like any parent, the father worries about his son. He knows what’s been going on—people are always happy to be the bearers of bad news.
“Harry, I hate to be the one to tell you, but I heard some news about your son. He’s quite the party animal these days…”
“Harry, I hate to be the one to tell you, but I hear that son of yours isn’t doing so well these days. Word is he squandered all of his money, and you know about the famine over there… It’s really a shame.”
Of course this father knew his son was in trouble, and he feared he would never see his son alive again. But he hoped that his son would come to his senses and come home. So he waited.
And finally, the day came. This time, when he walked out to the road looking for his son, he saw someone coming. He watched, and peered, and finally it says when he saw his son, still a long way off, he was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
This, by the way, was not the accepted way. Normally, the father would wait to be addressed by the son and to receive some show of respect before he would respond. But this father, in case you have not already guessed, is really God. And God’s compassion is exceptional. So he runs to his son and throws his arms around this dirty, smelly son of his and kisses him.
But the son is still afraid, because he knows he is completely unworthy. So
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven—that is, against God—and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. '
And the father says, “How dare you come groveling back to me after you squandered a third of my estate on loose living. How dare you show your face in my house?”
No. That’s not what this father said. That might be what a lot of fathers would say, but not this one. This father said not a word to his son, but turned, instead, to his servants.
22"… the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
Can you believe this? He probably allows a servant to whisk the tired, dirty, smelly young man away and clean him up, and they dress him in the finest clothes they can find. The robe was a sign of honor, the ring a sign of authority, and the sandals a sign of a free man—servants went barefoot, but this son who returned must wear the sandals of a son.
This is pretty hard to believe, isn’t it? Don’t you think the father should at least have some stern words for this worthless son of his?
Well. There was, in fact, someone who wasn’t quite so happy. It says,
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Did that say dancing? Isn’t this the Bible, for crying out loud? Well, that’s what it says, all right. 26So he [that is, the older son—the ‘good’ son] called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
Of course, the older brother was thrilled that his younger brother was safe and sound, and rushed into the house to welcome him. Oh wait, that’s not exactly the way the story goes, is it? It says,
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in.
Well, wouldn’t you be angry? Maybe the older brother has watched his father wander out to the road in the evening, looking into the distance. Maybe the older brother has seen his father aging and mourning when yet another story of his younger son reaches him. Maybe the older brother has been angry with his brother for a long, long time. At any rate, he’s not about to go to this so called party. This brother is a disgrace to the family!
Apparently word got to the father that the older son was not happy—not joining in the festivities.
So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
Can you hear the anger in his words? And isn’t it all true? But the father sees it differently.
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
This father, who represents God, has wisdom beyond human wisdom, and compassion that goes beyond anger. This father loves the one who is lost. This father watches for the lost one to return, and runs to kiss him and wrap his arms around him and celebrate. This father has more love for those who are lost than we can even imagine.
And what about that older brother? He’s the one who behaved himself and stayed home and kept his nose to the grindstone. I suppose he went to church every Sunday and he probably even tithed. Doesn’t the father appreciate him?
Listen again to what the father says to him. 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
This Father has plenty of love for both sons.
The story ends there. We don’t know whether the younger son really cleaned up his act or not—only that his father welcomed him home with love and compassion. We also don’t know whether the older son went to the party and welcomed his brother home and joined in the dancing, or went off to his room and sulked. Perhaps our stories are the end of this story.
Prayer:
God, help us to somehow grasp this image of you, our father. You are not a God who is sitting on a throne frowning down upon us. You are a God who is standing out at the end of the road, watching and waiting for us to come home to you, so you can throw your arms around us and welcome us. Help us to understand that you also call us to learn from you how to love our brothers and sisters who need you—the ones who have turned their backs on you and squandered their inheritance. Jesus, forgive us when we criticize those very people for whom you died. Soften our cold hearts and teach us how to love. Amen
This story is found in Luke 15, beginning at verse 11. Here’s what Jesus said. 11…"There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
Now, let me emphasize just what an outrageous request this young man has made. In that society, the younger son would have received one third of his father’s estate, and his older brother would receive two thirds. The very idea of asking for one’s inheritance while the father is still alive is outrageous. He is, in effect, wishing his father dead. By asking for his share of the estate, he is saying he has no concern whatsoever for his father’s welfare.
But his father complies. Most fathers would simply refuse, of course, but this one, perhaps hiding the sorrow he is feeling in his heart, agrees to give this ungrateful son exactly what he has asked for. He divides his property, which admittedly appears to be vast, probably selling some property in order to pay off this younger son who wants to go his own way. This son receives a lot of money. His entire inheritance. And his father simply watches to see what his son will do, now that he has gotten his own way. Here’s what happened.
13"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.
Wild living is the polite way of describing what that young man did with his inheritance. His older brother will tell us later that he squandered his money with prostitutes. And who knows what else he did? Jesus doesn’t tell us how long it takes for this young man to squander all of his father’s money. He apparently had a small fortune, so this wild living may have gone on for many years.
But eventually, his money ran out.
14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When this young man, who may not have been quite so young by that time, hit bottom, he hit it hard. He was flat broke in the time of a severe famine. A severe famine meant even the pigs were probably in danger of getting skinny. Decent work was nowhere to be found. You can be sure that this guy did not want to work taking care of pigs. In the Jewish tradition, pigs were considered to be disgusting, unclean animals, and no Jew would even eat pork, let alone hang around with pigs. But this younger brother, the one who had probably been a wild and popular man about town, was now reduced to living in squalor with the pigs. His pay was so minimal that he longed to eat the food that was given to the pigs, but no one would even let him eat the pigs’ food. How low can you get? There’s no soup kitchen in this town, and no one—including his old party animal pals, cares one bit whether he lives or dies.
He is isolated and starving, and he’s not sure he can even manage to keep himself alive.
Then comes one of my favorite lines in this story: “When he came to his senses….” Don’t you love that? “When he came to his senses…” For a long, long time, this guy has been on a downward spiral, completely out of control. Even back when he lived in his father’s house, his mind had gone out of control. We don’t know why, but already he had become outrageously selfish, with no regard for his father’s welfare. And, of course, he had no care even for his own welfare, when you think about it. Even a minimally prudent young man would have saved some of that inheritance for his own future. But this guy had no sense and apparently no morals. But one day, maybe after working all day in the fields caring for the pigs while his own belly was painfully empty, he came to his senses.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
These hired men are probably people this guy scorned back when he lived at home. I mean, can you imagine this guy being particularly thankful or kind to the people who cleaned up after him? I rather doubt it. He probably looked down his nose at those poor unfortunate people who had to work for a living. But now, he has come to his senses, and he realizes that, thanks to his father who pays them, they at least earn a decent living. They at least have a roof over their heads and food to eat. And he hatches a plan.
18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
He really has no choice. He realizes he will probably die at the rate he is going. So he decides to plead for mercy. He’s not, of course, going to ask to be reinstated as his father’s number two son. He’s pretty sure his father is very angry with him for the way he has squandered his share of the estate. He knows full well that he has been a jerk and a failure. But he hopes his father will take pity on him and allow him to live with the hired men and work for a living. He has no idea whether or not he will be rejected—most likely his father has disowned him in anger. But he can think of no alternative, so he starts out for home, planning to beg for mercy. All the way home, he’s trying to think of what he will say.
"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.
What kind of father is this? The father sees him while he is still a long way off. How can this be? This son has been gone for a long time. Perhaps the father walks out to the end of the road in the evening, looking into the distance, hoping his son will come back to him. Sure, the father has felt everything you might expect: disgust, anger, frustration. But he also misses this son, because he loves his son. And this is, after all, still his son. So like any parent, the father worries about his son. He knows what’s been going on—people are always happy to be the bearers of bad news.
“Harry, I hate to be the one to tell you, but I heard some news about your son. He’s quite the party animal these days…”
“Harry, I hate to be the one to tell you, but I hear that son of yours isn’t doing so well these days. Word is he squandered all of his money, and you know about the famine over there… It’s really a shame.”
Of course this father knew his son was in trouble, and he feared he would never see his son alive again. But he hoped that his son would come to his senses and come home. So he waited.
And finally, the day came. This time, when he walked out to the road looking for his son, he saw someone coming. He watched, and peered, and finally it says when he saw his son, still a long way off, he was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
This, by the way, was not the accepted way. Normally, the father would wait to be addressed by the son and to receive some show of respect before he would respond. But this father, in case you have not already guessed, is really God. And God’s compassion is exceptional. So he runs to his son and throws his arms around this dirty, smelly son of his and kisses him.
But the son is still afraid, because he knows he is completely unworthy. So
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven—that is, against God—and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. '
And the father says, “How dare you come groveling back to me after you squandered a third of my estate on loose living. How dare you show your face in my house?”
No. That’s not what this father said. That might be what a lot of fathers would say, but not this one. This father said not a word to his son, but turned, instead, to his servants.
22"… the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
Can you believe this? He probably allows a servant to whisk the tired, dirty, smelly young man away and clean him up, and they dress him in the finest clothes they can find. The robe was a sign of honor, the ring a sign of authority, and the sandals a sign of a free man—servants went barefoot, but this son who returned must wear the sandals of a son.
This is pretty hard to believe, isn’t it? Don’t you think the father should at least have some stern words for this worthless son of his?
Well. There was, in fact, someone who wasn’t quite so happy. It says,
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Did that say dancing? Isn’t this the Bible, for crying out loud? Well, that’s what it says, all right. 26So he [that is, the older son—the ‘good’ son] called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
Of course, the older brother was thrilled that his younger brother was safe and sound, and rushed into the house to welcome him. Oh wait, that’s not exactly the way the story goes, is it? It says,
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in.
Well, wouldn’t you be angry? Maybe the older brother has watched his father wander out to the road in the evening, looking into the distance. Maybe the older brother has seen his father aging and mourning when yet another story of his younger son reaches him. Maybe the older brother has been angry with his brother for a long, long time. At any rate, he’s not about to go to this so called party. This brother is a disgrace to the family!
Apparently word got to the father that the older son was not happy—not joining in the festivities.
So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
Can you hear the anger in his words? And isn’t it all true? But the father sees it differently.
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
This father, who represents God, has wisdom beyond human wisdom, and compassion that goes beyond anger. This father loves the one who is lost. This father watches for the lost one to return, and runs to kiss him and wrap his arms around him and celebrate. This father has more love for those who are lost than we can even imagine.
And what about that older brother? He’s the one who behaved himself and stayed home and kept his nose to the grindstone. I suppose he went to church every Sunday and he probably even tithed. Doesn’t the father appreciate him?
Listen again to what the father says to him. 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
This Father has plenty of love for both sons.
The story ends there. We don’t know whether the younger son really cleaned up his act or not—only that his father welcomed him home with love and compassion. We also don’t know whether the older son went to the party and welcomed his brother home and joined in the dancing, or went off to his room and sulked. Perhaps our stories are the end of this story.
Prayer:
God, help us to somehow grasp this image of you, our father. You are not a God who is sitting on a throne frowning down upon us. You are a God who is standing out at the end of the road, watching and waiting for us to come home to you, so you can throw your arms around us and welcome us. Help us to understand that you also call us to learn from you how to love our brothers and sisters who need you—the ones who have turned their backs on you and squandered their inheritance. Jesus, forgive us when we criticize those very people for whom you died. Soften our cold hearts and teach us how to love. Amen
11…"There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
Now, let me emphasize just what an outrageous request this young man has made. In that society, the younger son would have received one third of his father’s estate, and his older brother would receive two thirds. The very idea of asking for one’s inheritance while the father is still alive is outrageous. He is, in effect, wishing his father dead. By asking for his share of the estate, he is saying he has no concern whatsoever for his father’s welfare.
But his father complies. Most fathers would simply refuse, of course, but this one, perhaps hiding the sorrow he is feeling in his heart, agrees to give this ungrateful son exactly what he has asked for. He divides his property, which admittedly appears to be vast, probably selling some property in order to pay off this younger son who wants to go his own way. This son receives a lot of money. His entire inheritance. And his father simply watches to see what his son will do, now that he has gotten his own way. Here’s what happened.
13"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.
Wild living is the polite way of describing what that young man did with his inheritance. His older brother will tell us later that he squandered his money with prostitutes. And who knows what else he did? Jesus doesn’t tell us how long it takes for this young man to squander all of his father’s money. He apparently had a small fortune, so this wild living may have gone on for many years.
But eventually, his money ran out.
14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When this young man, who may not have been quite so young by that time, hit bottom, he hit it hard. He was flat broke in the time of a severe famine. A severe famine meant even the pigs were probably in danger of getting skinny. Decent work was nowhere to be found. You can be sure that this guy did not want to work taking care of pigs. In the Jewish tradition, pigs were considered to be disgusting, unclean animals, and no Jew would even eat pork, let alone hang around with pigs. But this younger brother, the one who had probably been a wild and popular man about town, was now reduced to living in squalor with the pigs. His pay was so minimal that he longed to eat the food that was given to the pigs, but no one would even let him eat the pigs’ food. How low can you get? There’s no soup kitchen in this town, and no one—including his old party animal pals, cares one bit whether he lives or dies.
He is isolated and starving, and he’s not sure he can even manage to keep himself alive.
Then comes one of my favorite lines in this story: “When he came to his senses….” Don’t you love that? “When he came to his senses…” For a long, long time, this guy has been on a downward spiral, completely out of control. Even back when he lived in his father’s house, his mind had gone out of control. We don’t know why, but already he had become outrageously selfish, with no regard for his father’s welfare. And, of course, he had no care even for his own welfare, when you think about it. Even a minimally prudent young man would have saved some of that inheritance for his own future. But this guy had no sense and apparently no morals. But one day, maybe after working all day in the fields caring for the pigs while his own belly was painfully empty, he came to his senses.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
These hired men are probably people this guy scorned back when he lived at home. I mean, can you imagine this guy being particularly thankful or kind to the people who cleaned up after him? I rather doubt it. He probably looked down his nose at those poor unfortunate people who had to work for a living. But now, he has come to his senses, and he realizes that, thanks to his father who pays them, they at least earn a decent living. They at least have a roof over their heads and food to eat. And he hatches a plan.
18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
He really has no choice. He realizes he will probably die at the rate he is going. So he decides to plead for mercy. He’s not, of course, going to ask to be reinstated as his father’s number two son. He’s pretty sure his father is very angry with him for the way he has squandered his share of the estate. He knows full well that he has been a jerk and a failure. But he hopes his father will take pity on him and allow him to live with the hired men and work for a living. He has no idea whether or not he will be rejected—most likely his father has disowned him in anger. But he can think of no alternative, so he starts out for home, planning to beg for mercy. All the way home, he’s trying to think of what he will say.
"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.
What kind of father is this? The father sees him while he is still a long way off. How can this be? This son has been gone for a long time. Perhaps the father walks out to the end of the road in the evening, looking into the distance, hoping his son will come back to him. Sure, the father has felt everything you might expect: disgust, anger, frustration. But he also misses this son, because he loves his son. And this is, after all, still his son. So like any parent, the father worries about his son. He knows what’s been going on—people are always happy to be the bearers of bad news.
“Harry, I hate to be the one to tell you, but I heard some news about your son. He’s quite the party animal these days…”
“Harry, I hate to be the one to tell you, but I hear that son of yours isn’t doing so well these days. Word is he squandered all of his money, and you know about the famine over there… It’s really a shame.”
Of course this father knew his son was in trouble, and he feared he would never see his son alive again. But he hoped that his son would come to his senses and come home. So he waited.
And finally, the day came. This time, when he walked out to the road looking for his son, he saw someone coming. He watched, and peered, and finally it says when he saw his son, still a long way off, he was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
This, by the way, was not the accepted way. Normally, the father would wait to be addressed by the son and to receive some show of respect before he would respond. But this father, in case you have not already guessed, is really God. And God’s compassion is exceptional. So he runs to his son and throws his arms around this dirty, smelly son of his and kisses him.
But the son is still afraid, because he knows he is completely unworthy. So
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven—that is, against God—and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. '
And the father says, “How dare you come groveling back to me after you squandered a third of my estate on loose living. How dare you show your face in my house?”
No. That’s not what this father said. That might be what a lot of fathers would say, but not this one. This father said not a word to his son, but turned, instead, to his servants.
22"… the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
Can you believe this? He probably allows a servant to whisk the tired, dirty, smelly young man away and clean him up, and they dress him in the finest clothes they can find. The robe was a sign of honor, the ring a sign of authority, and the sandals a sign of a free man—servants went barefoot, but this son who returned must wear the sandals of a son.
This is pretty hard to believe, isn’t it? Don’t you think the father should at least have some stern words for this worthless son of his?
Well. There was, in fact, someone who wasn’t quite so happy. It says,
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Did that say dancing? Isn’t this the Bible, for crying out loud? Well, that’s what it says, all right. 26So he [that is, the older son—the ‘good’ son] called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
Of course, the older brother was thrilled that his younger brother was safe and sound, and rushed into the house to welcome him. Oh wait, that’s not exactly the way the story goes, is it? It says,
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in.
Well, wouldn’t you be angry? Maybe the older brother has watched his father wander out to the road in the evening, looking into the distance. Maybe the older brother has seen his father aging and mourning when yet another story of his younger son reaches him. Maybe the older brother has been angry with his brother for a long, long time. At any rate, he’s not about to go to this so called party. This brother is a disgrace to the family!
Apparently word got to the father that the older son was not happy—not joining in the festivities.
So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
Can you hear the anger in his words? And isn’t it all true? But the father sees it differently.
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
This father, who represents God, has wisdom beyond human wisdom, and compassion that goes beyond anger. This father loves the one who is lost. This father watches for the lost one to return, and runs to kiss him and wrap his arms around him and celebrate. This father has more love for those who are lost than we can even imagine.
And what about that older brother? He’s the one who behaved himself and stayed home and kept his nose to the grindstone. I suppose he went to church every Sunday and he probably even tithed. Doesn’t the father appreciate him?
Listen again to what the father says to him. 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
This Father has plenty of love for both sons.
The story ends there. We don’t know whether the younger son really cleaned up his act or not—only that his father welcomed him home with love and compassion. We also don’t know whether the older son went to the party and welcomed his brother home and joined in the dancing, or went off to his room and sulked. Perhaps our stories are the end of this story.
Prayer:
God, help us to somehow grasp this image of you, our father. You are not a God who is sitting on a throne frowning down upon us. You are a God who is standing out at the end of the road, watching and waiting for us to come home to you, so you can throw your arms around us and welcome us. Help us to understand that you also call us to learn from you how to love our brothers and sisters who need you—the ones who have turned their backs on you and squandered their inheritance. Jesus, forgive us when we criticize those very people for whom you died. Soften our cold hearts and teach us how to love. Amen
Prayer:
God, help us to somehow grasp this image of you, our father. You are not a God who is sitting on a throne frowning down upon us. You are a God who is standing out at the end of the road, watching and waiting for us to come home to you, so you can throw your arms around us and welcome us. Help us to understand that you also call us to learn from you how to love our brothers and sisters who need you—the ones who have turned their backs on you and squandered their inheritance. Jesus, forgive us when we criticize those very people for whom you died. Soften our cold hearts and teach us how to love. Amen
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