“And he said, A certain man had two sons:” (Luke 15:11 KJV)
You know, this is an exciting parable. It has drama, history, inheritance, hurt feelings, honest discussion, and at least some reconciliation. Before we race off to all that, how many sons does this man start with? How many does he have at the end of this story? The same number; two. For all the talk of brotherly love, I think it’s true that some of the hardest people to love are those closest to you. Brothers often have conflicting ideas, different ways of going through life, and unique ways of establishing themselves as they begin to think about their own families. Interestingly, they often want equal time, attention, and praise from their father. Brothers can be very sensitive to imbalances. When an injustice is perceived, they are constantly looking for what is going to true that up.
The father in this story is not looking for a chance to even a score. The father does not even seem to be all that concerned that a great loss to so much of what he has worked for up to this point has taken place. The father is not watching closely for a return on his investments. He is watching to see his sons grow. In fact, so much so, that when the inheritance is requested long before he’s gone, he doesn’t even require a security or assurance of some sort. In verse 20, the father sees him “when he was a great way off”. The father is watching for him. Watching to see if he’ll come home when the things that his son has been chasing are done with him. The father knows that this will require growth in his son.
The father is also looking for growth in the son that stayed. Staying may seem like a safer bet to some. There may be a degree of honor, accountability, and reward in not going too far out on a limb. Yet, it takes that contrasting story coming back home to show where the growth is most needed. The father does not deny any of what this son is frustrated about. Worse, the father offers no apologies. Notwithstanding, the father is able to communicate in clear concise words where this son’s growth is needed. In fact, the words that the father concludes with are “It was meet”. Literally, “it is necessary”. It takes real growth to finally see that necessity and how that really is an “ought” or “should be” thing when life is discovered. So, for all the drama and history in this story, it never really was about learning to make wise decisions or being quick with a greeting. All along it was about a father who loved his sons enough to let them process what they needed to to be able to see what real life is. To know what wholeness and fitness needs to look like.
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10 KJV)