Lk. 15: 1-3, 11-32
If you ask someone which is their favourite passage in the Bible? In all probability they will choose Lk. 15: 11-32. This passage presents to us the parable of the prodigal son and his brother. It is considered as the most beautiful short story that has been ever written. Why is it so dear to us? Because we all might have lived this story in our life as the prodigal Son, or the Father, or the brother. Some of us, even all the three characters.
The greatness of this parable is that each and every word in this parable can be a theme for our meditation. I would like to choose the title itself because I thought that the parable is known as ‘the parable of the prodigal son,’ but later on, I realized that the title that is given in NRSV bible is ‘the parable of the prodigal Son and his elder brother.’ Normally, we consider the prodigal son as the hero and the brother as the anti-hero. Both have equally failed because in Jewish tradition, one claims for the ancestor property once the father of the house is no more. The prodigal son claimed for his property while his father was alive. It means he considered his father equal to being dead. However, the elder brother stayed with the father. The difference between the both of them is not about who stayed, but, that the prodigal son realized that he went astray but the eldest brother did not realize that.
The book titled ‘Jesus the compassion of God’ written By Monika Hellwig, gives new insights on this parable. She opines that those who claim to be in the Father’s house are running short of Compassion. Though the eldest Son was physically present with the father, yet his heart was miles away from the father. In the parable we read that when the father sees the youngest son from far he moved with compassion, runs to Him. There are no questions like where were you? Why did you leave me? What did you do with the money? No accusations, no complaints. Instead, only the expression of compassionate love: presenting him the new garment, sandals, ring and restoring his lost dignity as His son and a festive meal in his honour.
Whereas the eldest son was not ready to go inside the house. He had only complaints and accusations about his younger brother. In the parable, it is said that the prodigal son squandered his money with prostitutes. But his own brother accused him of such a moral failure. We cannot simply reject the elder son because all his arguments are valid and it is very true that he genuinely served the father but he failed to understand or imbibe the compassionate heart of his father. The words of Soren Kirkeggard would be a fitting conclusion for this reflection: “Never cease loving a person, and never give up hope for him, for even the prodigal son, who had fallen most low, could still be saved; the bitterest enemy and also he who was your friend could again be your friend; love that has grown cold can kindle.” May this Lenten season help us to grow into the love of the Father.