The warm embrace of two people who have been separated for years; the tears of joy that come when the face of the one whom you’ve worried about and held in your prayers for so long is right in front of you; the amazing grace that happens when the one who has been lost has finally been found.
It would be an understatement to say that the story of the Prodigal’s Son is one of the most powerful biblical stories in our society. Everyone knows the story. Even people who have never stepped foot on the grass at the edge of any church property know this story. Heck, most people have lived the story. Who has not been lost? Who has not found themselves at the bottom of the pit, swimming in the mud, planning a way back from the bottom of life, and going home again to find themselves? Who has not felt the love and grace found in forgiveness, especially the undeserved kind? This is our story! This is one of the greatest stories we know!
But, hold on before we get too excited! Hold tight before we allow our imaginations to swim in the images of our loving, grace-filled God who accepts us back just as we are. Hold on, because the older brother has something to say also. And what he has to say, quite frankly is right. It is dead on, center of the target, straight as an arrow, 100% correct.
The older brother, angered that the little twerp gets to have a grand celebration, is 100% right about many things:
1. This twerp, this numskull, this son of a stupid and giddy Father has no right to be celebrated! He stripped his Father of loads of hard earned money when he asked for his inheritance, and he left his Father as if his Father was already dead. What is there celebrate? The older brother is right, the younger brother does not deserve this kind of attention.
2. Not only did he take the money early, but he was not even wise. The kid was one french-fry short of a Happy Meal if you know what I mean. In the same way that fourth grade boys blow all of their spending money during a school field trip on some cheap plastic light up toy that makes noise, and then have nothing left over to buy lunch; the younger son blew all that he had on everything fun but ultimately useless and had nothing left for the rainy day. What an idiot! Surprise, surprise, the famine came. And guess what? He had no money. What is there to be happy about in that? The older brother is right, the younger brother does not deserve to be taken back.
3. A grown father, skipping and giggling like a little school girl, jumping up and down with excitement over seeing this long-lost son of a… Need I say more. The older brother is right.
4. And, on top of it all, the little undeserving, scheming, lying, manipulative, does not want to suffer the consequences of a stupid life, son of the father…note, he is no brother, he wanted to be gone and dead and we are happy to oblige…is getting a party! A party! The good silverware has been set out. The twerp will steal it for sure. The good steaks have been grilled. And, who was not even invited to come in from working hard in the fields to celebrate? Who was out making the money for the family? The older brother. What an ungrateful father! What a stupid situation! Where is the justice? When does the older brother get to celebrate? When does the one who stuck around, did everything right, paid the bills on time, worked to make sure his father was cared for, ran the family business; when does he get to be celebrated? The older brother is right. If the stupid younger brothers of the world want the good things in life, they can work hard for it, just like everyone else.
No, I am not exaggerating, I am not rhetorically yanking your chain, I am not leading you down a blind path, I am honestly, truthfully, and correctly stating that the older brother is right. The younger brother does not deserve any of this. This is not just. This is not honoring the correct people. And, this certainly is not fair.
“Then the father said to [the older brother], ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ “
Everything that the older brother says is right, but it does not necessarily mean that it is good.
It is easy to get confused about this, but sometimes punishment is not the answer to the problem. Sometimes, locking people out is not what will make them healthy. Sometimes, we are absolutely right, but we are not good. Sometimes being right blocks your vision. You cannot see beyond your rightness, because, if you could look beyond your rightness, you would see a broken person on the floor right in front of you who could use a new life. Sometimes being right blinds us to the vast possibilities brought about, not by punishment, but by love and forgiveness and rejoicing. “We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”
Jesus does not worry about being right. When it comes to his brothers and sisters, Jesus is worried about being good. Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners? Not because it is right, but because it is good. Even to the end, when the people who had nailed him to the cross were mocking and spitting on him Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus dying on the cross was not the just thing. It was not right. He should not have had to forgive those monsters. It was not right. But, it was good. It was full of forgiveness, and, it was not blinded by being right.
Come to the table and be fed by Christ. Though others may not, Jesus will eat with you. Come to find healing in Christ. Though others may not, Jesus will accept you. Come back home to Christ, his arms are waiting to embrace you.
All Scripture quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyrighted, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and is used by permission. All rights reserved.
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