Luke 15: 11-32: v 28: The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him.”
To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “ A man had two sons. The younger son ask for his inheritance, took it and squandered it on wild living. He finally had a job feeding pigs. He came to his senses, saying to himself’ at home even the hired servants have food enough to spare.’ I will go home to my father and say” Father I have sinned, please take me on as a hired servant.” Filled with love and compassion his father ran to him son, embraced him and kissed him. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost , but now he is found.”
Meanwhile the older son returned from the fields and heard the party. We are celebrating the safe return of your brother. The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him. “Look dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. He was lost but now he is found.”
This familiar story for many years made me a little sorry for the older son. Until I realized that there were two lost sons. One who was lost for a long time and one briefly when he heard of the party for his younger brother. On both occasions the father came out to them. To the younger he embraced him because he had turned away from God, deliberately chosen a different path that had led him to disaster. At his lowest point he realized he had to ask his father for forgiveness and returned home. His father, knowing what was in his heart, came out to meet him on the road and organized a celebration for him. The older son stayed close to the father, lived alongside his love all his life. He became angry at his brothers’ party and refused to go in. Briefly lost in anger. The Father came out to talk to this son too. Reminded the older son that ‘everything I have is yours.’ The younger son returning did not distract one thing from what the older son had. The Father was showing his love for both his sons. Celebrating the one who was lost and reconfirming with the one that was always close, that he is equally loved too.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for the amazing love that you have for all of us. Amen.
CrossWalk 