onthly MeditationMeditation for April 2010
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Judith reads:
The Parable of the Prodigal or Lost Son is the eleventh parable of Jesus unique to the Gospel of St. Luke. It can be found in Luke 15: 11 – 31.
In this parable a father has two sons and his estate is to be divided equally between them. The one son was anxious to have his share of the inheritance immediately and the father agreed to give it to him, whereupon he left home, moved to a distant land, and there he wasted his money in wild living. (New Living Translation.) About the same time that his money ran out there was a great famine and he began to starve. He realised that the only sensible thing to do was to return to his father’s house, ask his forgiveness, and beg to be taken on as a hired hand. His father had been watching for him daily and saw him coming and rushed out to greet him. He arranged for a great feast to celebrate his return.
In this parable we also get to look at the brother who is not lost, the one who stayed at home and did everything that was expected of him. All seemed well with him but underneath things were not as perfect as they appeared on the surface.
The good and hard-working son harboured a lot of resentment. He kept it well hidden but when his brother returned from foreign parts having wasted his share of the family inheritance, and was welcomed with open arms and an open-handed celebration, his resentment spilled over and he refused to join in the revelry. His chance had come to show his displeasure at the situation and he made his point by refusing to join the party. His father pleaded with him to celebrate his brother’s return; he explained that everything he had already belonged to him.
The parable leaves us hanging. Will the good son maintain his displeasure or will he put his resentment aside and welcome his brother home?
Jesus does not tell us what the good brother should do; nor does he tell us what we should do with our own resentment in a particular situation. He leaves us to decide for ourselves how best to deal with seeming injustices. We need to ask how well continued resentment will serve us. Resentment, if left to fester, will build up inside us and negate any good that we have done. Can we enjoy life when filled with resentment? Would you go in and welcome your brother? Would you go in and enjoy the party? Will you put aside some current resentment thus giving yourself a chance to welcome life and celebrate the good things? God welcomes the lost son home, forgives him all the hurt he has caused. God also welcomes those who put aside their resentments and come home to God’s love.
What will the ending of this parable be for you? Will you forgive those who have hurt you? Will you go in and enjoy God’s celebration of forgiveness and receive all that he has to give you? All that he has is yours. You are welcome to receive it and be fulfilled; or you can refuse it and be unhappy.
© Judith Lawrence April 2010
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