The readings today feature one of the most talked about and preached about passages in the Bible and in literature as a whole. The Parable of the Prodigal Son. In the beginning of the parable we see essentially the epitome of the entitlement mentality which was talked about yesterday. The son demanded the gift of the father, which the father willingly bestowed. And the son did not produce fruit worthy of the gift, so it was taken from him.
It is interesting to note the change in the prodigal son's philosophy from the beginning of the story to the end. By the end of the story, the prodigal son recognizes indeed that he never had any right to his inheritance. He should rather have been grateful to his father who loved him. And this becomes his attitude. When he comes back he recognizes that he deserves nothing and indeed expects nothing. His attitude is one in which he would be grateful for even the lowest place among his servants. And the father, overjoyed that his son has returned, gives him instead a place of highest honor in his household.
And this is right just, contrary to the "good" son's objections, precisely because of the dynamic change of the prodigal son's outlook. His complete and utter humility and gratitude to his father is one of the key factors in making possible the joyous celebration of his return. If he had returned and demanded more with the same obstinance from his father, the celebration would have been awkward at best. The joy came from his complete repentance. His philosophy went from "I deserve," to "Thank You."
There is even good news for the dejected "good" son. When he complains to his father, the father says to him, "Everything I have is yours." I think in our meditation on the father's immediate acceptance of his prodigal, we tend to overlook what incredibly good news this is for the rank and file Christian faithful. Everything our Heavenly Father has belongs to his children. That is a gift and a mystery the depth of which I will not even try to plume tonight.
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