Love, Compassion, and Celebration

But he was angry and refused to go in.  His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, “Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!”  And he said to him, “Son you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’ (Luke 15:28-32). 

We’re entering the middle of the story and we have an older brother whose angry.  Let’s catch up, the younger son tells his dad he wants his part of the inheritance.  Basically, he’s wishing his father was dead, so he could collect his money and live as he pleases.  The father gives him his inheritance and the son goes on his way.  He wastes all the money on wild living. After having nothing left, he comes to his senses remembering his father, and realized he is in need, so he decides to go back home.  To his surprise the father is watching and waiting for his return, welcomes him back, and announces a homecoming celebration. 

Now, the older brother comes on the scene and he’s angry.  He had stayed home all this time, and was the obedient son.  Everything the father had was always available to him.  But when the younger brother comes home after spending his inheritance recklessly, he couldn’t join in the celebration of his brother’s return. 

The father pleads with the older brother to join them, but he refuses and goes off angry, probably some resentment and jealously as well.  The bigger problem with the older brother, although he lived at home with father, he never fully received the love of the father, therefore he had no compassion when his younger brother returned. 

As a mom, this is heartbreaking, how do settle this when you’re on both sides? 

Father, may we remember, You see us through eyes of unconditional love, no matter where we are and what we have done.