“A man had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided the property between his two sons. 13 Then the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled far away to another country. There he wasted his money in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a time came when there was no food anywhere in the country, and the son was poor and hungry. 15 So he got a job with one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs. 16 The son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 When he realized what he was doing, he thought, ‘All of my father’s servants have plenty of food. But I am here, almost dying with hunger. 18 I will leave and return to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants.”’ 20 So the son left and went to his father.
“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him. 21 The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b] 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get our fat calf and kill it so we can have a feast and celebrate. 24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “The older son was in the field, and as he came closer to the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 So he called to one of the servants and asked what all this meant. 27 The servant said, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father killed the fat calf, because your brother came home safely.’ 28 The older son was angry and would not go in to the feast. So his father went out and begged him to come in. 29 But the older son said to his father, ‘I have served you like a slave for many years and have always obeyed your commands. But you never gave me even a young goat to have at a feast with my friends. 30 But your other son, who wasted all your money on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!’ 31 The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.’” (Lk 15:11-31)
Now, when we read this story, we usually read it through the eyes of one of the two sons--the wayward son and the obedient son.
To preface this story, Jesus has the first son asking for an advance on his inheritance. This is akin to saying to one's parent: "I wish you were dead. Give me my money now so I don't have to wait for you to die." Not only incredibly insulting, but hurtful. The father, however, obliges.
That's bad enough, but taking things a step further, the son proceeds to squander his inheritance. He's not saying, "Dad, give me the money so I can make a downpayment on a house, or invest it." He doesn't mete out his money or do anything worthwhile with it--he blows it in baller fashion. And not on food or clothes even, but dissipation, ie, booze and prostitutes. Furthermore, he doesn't just go to the next town over to do this, but to a distant country in an effort to get as far away from his family as he can.
Eventually, he runs out of money and finds himself in the midst of a famine. He attempts to get a job. He hires himself out to "a citizen of that country," who had pigs. Now, pigs were considered unclean animals in Jewish culture, so you know this guy is not a Jew who would take care of one of their own. He's in a foreign land with nothing, and tending swine. He's so hungry, he'd be happy to eat the pig's slop, like someone who forages through dumpsters for food, but even that is denied him. Now, keep in mind this is a young man from a royal, well off family family. Who is now sleeping with pigs in mud and longing for their food. You could call it a low point.
At some point, he "comes to his senses" and recalls all that he left in light of where he currently finds himself. Or maybe he was just really hungry and will do anything for food. You have to wonder if he never hit this point if he would have realized everything he left. He sets back towards home and rehearses his speech. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you..."
When the father sees him approaching in the distance, he ran to meet him. Two important things to note here: being a speck in the distance, the father must have been looking towards the horizon every day since the moment he left hoping for his return. When he does finally see him "a long way off," he runs, throws his arms around him, and kisses him. This is a completely undignified action on the part of the father given the disrespect shown to him. It is counter to the customary behavior of an elder at the time, esp. one in his position.
When the son finally gets close enough he starts his act of contrition that he's been rehearsing. But the father almost cuts him off and orders a celebration feast to be prepared. No scolding, no discussion, no earning back anything. Just overwhelming, undignified joy.
The elder son, who "never disobeyed" and had been "slaving for the father" all these years, is indignant. And maybe rightfully so. He did everything right. The father pleads with him to come in to the celebration when he refuses to. The elder brother has his own sins, resentments, and struggles to deal with, but what is not in doubt is the father's love for him. I always identified with the younger son and read the story from his perspective, so I never gave much thought as to what the elder brother was going through, but I imagine if you're used to doing everything right and being faithful it would seem like a slap in the face.
Love doesn't always make sense or follow customs. It searches far, stoops low, runs fast, and forgives willingly. It respects freedom, spends lavishly, and shares limitlessly. It holds hands with mercy and never gives up hope. It is the nature of the Father to love. He just can't help himself.
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