The Prodigal's FamilyParaugs

The Older Son’s Story

I can’t believe how much my little brother gets away with! He’s drunk half the time and I’m sure he knows all the prostitutes intimately! He rarely goes to synagogue. He barely helps in the fields. And when he does, his work is poor as he’s off laughing and chatting with the fieldsmen. He’s the most ill-disciplined person I know.

A while ago, I still can’t quite believe he did this, he came to our father and asked him, … listen to this, … he asked him for his share of the property. Basically, he said he was too important to wait till our father died but wanted to enjoy his inheritance whilst he was still young! The bare-faced cheek of it! He’s done nothing to deserve his share apart from being born. By rights, it should all be mine.

But my father gives him the money and off he goes to who knows where. We get word from time to time but it’s never good. It just brings more shame to our family.

After a while, the news dried up and father would go out on the road looking for him. I don’t know why he bothered after the way my brother treated him.

Well, one day my father found him. Apparently, he’d been living the high life, ran out of money, and ended up feeding pigs! You would think he delights in shaming us.

And what does father do? He showers him with gifts and throws a massive party. For Him! I couldn’t even bring myself to go inside, never mind greeting the guests as I should, it was all too much.

To make matters worse father comes out to me, leaving our guests! He says my brother begged for forgiveness and asked to be treated as the help, so he chose to forgive him because he loves him. I was so angry I exploded. I said to father, "I do everything right and get nothing. I slave in the fields every day for you and get no reward and this layabout breaks every rule, custom, and tradition and you forgive him! And you say it’s because you love him, what about me?" Then father has the audacity to say he loves me too! (sigh)

This monologue was first used as part of a reconciliation service to aid with the examination of conscience along with the following questions. Use this and the scripture that inspired it to reflect on God’s mercy and forgiveness of us as sinners.

St Paul tells us that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Pray now for self-discipline in the areas of your life where you need it most.

When have you been, selfish, impatient, or disrespectful? Recall those times when you have been more focused on yourself than others.

When have been jealous of others or quick to judge others without knowing the whole story? Bring these times to mind now.

When are you resistant to love and forgiveness? What walls do you build between yourself, others, and God?

The older son in this parable is often equated with the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the time but can easily be translated to modern-day Christians in leadership. We can be resentful and judgmental of those who have not lived with the restrictions of faith and fail to see the freedoms that our faith affords us. God never fails to invite us to see the bigger picture filled with his infinite love and mercy.