The story of the Prodigal Son has been a long time favorite of mine. Years ago, while working on an women’s ACTS retreat in my home town, we needed a good skit to do before our Reconciliation service. Knowing the impact of this passage, I adapted it as a Prodigal Daughter story and with the help of our priest, we told this parable from a slightly different perspective. It was quite powerful.
I still laugh thinking about the next day, when one of the retreatants was looking for me. She asked a team member if she could speak to the “young prostitute.”
Come to think of it, maybe it made too much of an impression!
I think that we all love this story because it is about a father’s love and redemption. We focus on that young son who squanders everything and after hitting rock bottom, recognizes that his father’s servants have a better life than he does. He is repentant and ready to go home, begging his dad to take him back, not as a son, but as a servant. What a humbling experience. How far he falls from his haughty demands to get all his inheritance even before his father has passed away.
Because the majority of the story focuses on that younger son, the image of the father waiting and watching for his return never fails to make the heart stir. We love to picture this older man, standing on a hill overlooking the road and, catching a glimpse of his son, begins running to meet him. Don’t we all love to think of ourselves as that poor lost child who is welcomed home by a forgiving father? I know that it makes me think of how incredible the Love of God is and how amazing His mercy, since I can often relate to that impatient younger son.
But, how often do we truly consider the older brother? Every now and then you may hear it in a sermon or homily. A brief glance over the fact that he was jealous. Maybe even a small discussion on how we can sometimes find ourselves sitting in judgement too. All good points. Can I offer something else?
A few weeks back I heard a brief comment on a podcast called “Clumsy Theosis” (I’ll add a link below.) It made me pause and think a bit differently. One of the ladies said that, even though we don’t realize it, many Christians are the like the older brother in this story in that we don’t see ourselves as children, but as servants. We get caught up in a master/slave relationship. I thought this was interesting, but as I was driving and didn’t have my bible with me right then, I couldn’t study it more. Then, you know how life happens and you forget.
It was not until I was standing in Mass this weekend with my Every Sacred Sunday Devotional reading along with the Gospel did the pieces start to click together. Here is what I found. Notice the words that are underlined as you read through.
Luke 15: 25-31
“Now the Older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, “Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.” He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, “Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.” The Father said to him, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours…”
Wow, do you see it too? There are no words in Scripture that are placed on accident. Every one of them has a meaning and a purpose. Seeing these, I was reminded of that brief comment on a podcast weeks before. That older son thinks of himself as a servant. Let’s unpack it.
Based on the story, that idea starts to become clear. The older boy hears the party, but doesn’t go to his dad to ask what is going on. In fact, he already seems upset. He calls a servant, almost like getting a friend and checking with them first to see what’s going on before you ask someone in authority. This is the first sign I see that the relationship with his dad may not be as good as we would hope.
Then, when he learns more, he becomes angry and won’t even go inside. His dad must come to him. How does he speak to his father? As an employee. Do you see it?
I have SERVED you and never once DISOBEYED your ORDERS.
Really? Is that a healthy father son relationship? Sounds more like a master and slave mentality. He even uses the word “son” but in reference to the younger brother. He doesn’t connect himself to this family member, only saying YOUR son. He wants no claim to relationship there.
Can you see the position he has placed himself in? Do you ever find yourself looking at God and thinking about how you are obeying Him and His rules? How you serve Him? I think we have to be on guard to watch our mentality so that we don’t fall into this trap. Because, the father’s words to this older brother show us something special.
He calls him SON. He reminds him that everything the father owns is his as well. This brother has always been able to partake of the gifts, but his heart did not recognize this. He was not in a father/son relationship where he shared in the life of his dad. He was too busy working and obeying instead of living and loving. That makes me so sad and also spurs me on to make sure I don’t fall into that trap as well.
One last thought. The fact that the younger brother moves from son to servant in his mind as he longs to come home, should not be lost on us. These two boys are on opposite journeys, but the Father sees them both for who they truly are. His children. Loved and precious in his sight and always in his heart, no matter how far they stray in distance or attitude.
May we be careful of which Prodigal son we are at any given moment. Our Father wants to share all that He has with us.
XOXO,
Barb
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