The Older Son

This is the third time I am writing this reflection. Each time I write it and get to the end, I know it isn’t the truth that God is asking me to share with you. My reflections on this most beautiful story have been banal. So let’s try again and see if I can calm my soul end open my heart enough to hear the truth God is speaking.

As I reflect on this reading, I keep returning to the older son. He seems to be an add-on to the story, after this beautiful story of the outrageously loving father welcoming home in grand style his wayward son. It is almost like Jesus says, “Oh, and by the way, there is another son. Let me tell you about him too.” After the powerful story of the younger son and the loving father, this angry older son enters the story.

The older son may actually be the point of the story. The Pharisees were hassling and questioning Jesus because he hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners. His response is to tell them the story of the Prodigal Son. Indeed, in the tale, the prostitutes and other shady characters he was surrounding himself with would be comforted. God loved them no matter what they had done in their lives. But I am not sure that message would have changed the heart of the Pharisees.

However, the older son has possibilities for touching them if they are really listening to the story. Jesus is trying to help them see that their anger at those they see as sinners and lowlifes, even if it is justified, is not the way of God. God is inviting them too into the shelter of His magnanimous love.

I think that the older son is like the Pharisees. Jesus included him in the story to reach out to them so they might see how God wants to welcome them too. The Pharisees don’t have to be the “bad guys” in the story.

The Pharisees were angry about the people Jesus was hanging around. After all, hadn’t they been following the rules. Hadn’t they spent countless hours in the temple? Hadn’t they studied and learned the law and about the prophets? Yet, here Jesus is welcoming into his presence and his heart those who were considered the lowest. They didn’t follow the rules. They didn’t spend their time doing what was expected. They were prostitutes and tax collectors. They were squandering their lives.

I hope you see the parallels. Just as God welcomed home the prodigal son and then reached out to the faithful son with words of love. Jesus is saying that God will accept all. Those who have squandered their opportunities to be better people. The riffraff of society will be welcomed with open arms. So too will those who have been faithfully following the call of God to holiness.

Perhaps the learning for us is simple. Our God wants to save everyone. If we follow Him faithfully but have anger in our hearts or place judgments on others, we are also prodigal. The sins of judging others and casting derision on another for any reason put us far from the Kingdom of God.  

Jesus in this story demonstrates that we are all sometimes prodigal. We are in the same boat, whether that is because of our questionable actions or self-righteous judgments. God is waiting at the door, wanting our return. He is as ready to kill the fatted calf for anyone who has a change of heart and comes to Him seeking shelter.  

Perhaps the more challenging change is not to climb up from the gutter but rather to climb down from our high horse. Either way, God is waiting for us. We are all prodigal in one way or another.  Let’s come to our senses and return to our Father.

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen