DAY TWENTY-SEVEN – Friday, March 19, 2021
Luke 15:11-32
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe–the best one–and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘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.’”
Forgiveness, envy and a father’s love were feelings this passage generated for me. I, like the elder son, am a first-born. I could identify with his feelings of always being present and “doing the right thing”. I have a younger brother and sister. Boy, was I annoyed when my sister got her ears pierced when she was 12 and I couldn’t have mine done until I was 14. And my brother, he always seemed to get the car even though I thought I had asked first. I am grateful that, for the most part, I grew out of that annoyance and I like to think that I am a supportive sibling at this stage of my life (I’m 62).
While reviewing this passage I also looked at the word prodigal. According to the Webster Dictionary the word prodigal means to be extravagant/excessively lavish ~ weren’t the younger son and the father both prodigal? Maybe they are the two that are similar in their family ~ maybe the father identified more with the playful/risk taking second son as opposed to the dutiful oldest son. Family dynamics ~ you just have to love them!
What does this passage say to me? It is so important to remain open to other people’s feelings and perceptions ~ something can be learned by exploring. Communicating with each other is so important for clarification. Tell people close to you that they matter.
Brenda Jones
Luke 15:11-32
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe–the best one–and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘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.’”
Forgiveness, envy and a father’s love were feelings this passage generated for me. I, like the elder son, am a first-born. I could identify with his feelings of always being present and “doing the right thing”. I have a younger brother and sister. Boy, was I annoyed when my sister got her ears pierced when she was 12 and I couldn’t have mine done until I was 14. And my brother, he always seemed to get the car even though I thought I had asked first. I am grateful that, for the most part, I grew out of that annoyance and I like to think that I am a supportive sibling at this stage of my life (I’m 62).
While reviewing this passage I also looked at the word prodigal. According to the Webster Dictionary the word prodigal means to be extravagant/excessively lavish ~ weren’t the younger son and the father both prodigal? Maybe they are the two that are similar in their family ~ maybe the father identified more with the playful/risk taking second son as opposed to the dutiful oldest son. Family dynamics ~ you just have to love them!
What does this passage say to me? It is so important to remain open to other people’s feelings and perceptions ~ something can be learned by exploring. Communicating with each other is so important for clarification. Tell people close to you that they matter.
Brenda Jones
